Holdouts From the 1970s Stymie Africa's Political Renewal
Uganda's Yoweri Museveni plans to seek reelection in January and extend his near four-decade rule of the East African nation.
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News24
11 hours ago
- News24
Ramaphosa warns Trump's tariffs highlight urgency to diversify vehicle exports
@PresidencyZA/X Ramaphosa urges the auto sector to reduce reliance on US exports. BMW's new hybrid model aligns with green mobility priorities. Government pledges incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) production and mineral processing. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that the newly announced tariffs by the US could pose significant risks to SA's automotive exports, urging the sector to diversify its markets and increase domestic value creation. A 30% tariff on SA's exports to the US is set to be implemented on 1 August. Speaking at the launch of BMW's new X3 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria on Thursday, Ramaphosa praised the company's continued investment in the country but cautioned that reliance on a few export destinations, such as the US and Europe, could leave the local industry exposed. 'The recent announcement on tariffs by the US, of course, has a huge impact on all of us,' said Ramaphosa. It further underscores the need for us to diversify our export base and to accelerate domestic value creation as well. President Cyril Ramaphosa He said while BMW's decision to export the new X3 to Europe was welcomed, SA must also expand its footprint across the continent, particularly within the Southern African Development Community. 'We need to open our eyes and our ears and see where else our vehicles can go,' the president said. SA's automotive sector contributes 4.9% to the country's GDP and supports more than 115 000 direct jobs. Ramaphosa described the industry as the 'lead spine' of the country's industrial strategy and said the BMW Group's role in its development was both longstanding and crucial. He said BMW's decision to produce hybrid vehicles locally aligns with the country's transition to a low-carbon economy and the global push towards green mobility. 'We are committed and determined to ensure that there is an enabling regulatory and policy environment to make it easier for companies like BMW to continue to innovate,' he said. This includes support through the Automotive Production and Development Programme, the Electric Vehicle White Paper, and targeted incentives for battery cell production, clean mobility research and critical mineral beneficiation. Ramaphosa also praised the company's broader economic contribution, including its training academy, the Youth Employment Service programme and its investment in digital skills through its IT hub. He said BMW's continued presence and reinvestment, including its R4.2 billion pledge at the SA Investment Conference, was a sign of trust in local workers, who the company refers to as 'associates'. 'You are now going to be producing a high-end vehicle for the world market,' he said to the BMW staff at the plant. It will come from your hands, as associates of this company. The Rosslyn plant was BMW's first production facility built outside Germany and has operated in the country for more than 50 years. Ramaphosa described the plant as a model of industrial transformation, job creation and inclusive growth.
Fox News
11 hours ago
- Fox News
'Star Wars Bar of leftists': Weingarten, Hunter, Mamdani prove Democratic Party led by extreme figures
The prominence within the Democratic Party of AFT union boss Randi Weingarten, New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Hunter Biden proves it is being led by "a Star Wars bar of leftists," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said Wednesday. Weingarten's appearance with democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., at an event midday Thursday, the viral Hunter Biden interview broadcast over the weekend, and Mamdani's upset of more moderate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral primary show Democrats don't have the leadership to bring together Middle America, Schmitt said. "You look at the players right now with Randi Weingarten and Hunter Biden, you know, the communist in New York, I mean it's just a Star Wars bar of leftists that are in charge of that party," Schmitt said. "And so I think they do not know how to get back to a place where they can appeal to mainstream America. Whether Bernie Sanders is talking to her or if other casts of characters are reaching out to radicals – and by the way [Randi] should be ashamed of herself for what she did to kids during COVID." Weingarten had advocated for keeping schools closed during the pandemic, while parents criticized the fact that their children appeared to be suffering socially and educationally from remote learning. Schmitt said it's up to Democrats themselves to figure out how to craft a message that will appeal to the middle. "But for us [Republicans] I think we stay focused on the accomplishments. The 'big, beautiful bill' delivered for working-class folks, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime. We front-loaded that money to secure our board. We front-loaded that money for our military to keep people safe. You look at the rescissions package, where we save $9 billion in taxpayer money cutting off these woke outlets. So, there's a lot for us to talk about – there's a lot to be proud of," Schmitt went on. When asked about Biden's interview and revelations, including former President Joe Biden's reported use of Ambien ahead of his disastrous debate, Schmitt said he couldn't attest to whether that is the main explanation of the Delaware Democrat's "mental decline that everyone covered up." "I do think that sort of unhinged interview is kind of emblematic of the state of the Democrat Party at this point, and they're just blaming everybody," he said, as Hunter Biden blamed numerous top figures, including former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, actor George Clooney, Obama aides-turned-podcasters Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau; however not by name in their case. "They don't have a message. They don't have a leader. So, I'm sure Democrats don't like having Hunter Biden be their spokesperson right now. But they also have a Communist that they just elected in a primary in New York." Ahead of the Thursday town hall with Weingarten, Sanders said it remains "unacceptable that, in the richest country in the history of the world, 40% of teachers have to work extra jobs just to make ends meet." A statement from Sanders' office said he, Markey, Weingarten and NEA union vice president Princess Moss will join 100 other teachers to discuss "burnout and disinvestment" affecting the "quality of public education."
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Libya's Mellitah to work with Hill on two gas projects
Mellitah Oil and Gas has entered into an agreement with US-based Hill International to oversee a significant project aimed at enhancing Libya's gas production. Mellitah Oil and Gas is a joint venture between Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italian energy company Eni. The signing of the agreement took place during a visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli by US President Donald Trump's senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos. The project, known as Structures A&E, is set to elevate local gas output and ensure exports to Europe. It will see the development of two gas fields in contractual area D, offshore Libya. With production due to commence next year, the fields are expected to yield up to 750 million cubic feet of gas per day. The development will be supported by two main platforms, which will be integrated into the existing treatment facilities at the Mellitah complex. In addition to boosting gas production, the project includes the construction of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at Mellitah. This facility aligns with Eni's decarbonisation strategy and aims to significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint. The estimated investment for the project stands at $8bn (Ld43.23bn), with a substantial impact anticipated for the industry and its supply chain, thereby contributing notably to the economy of Libya. During the discussions, NOC presented Libya's strategy to increase oil production to two million barrels per day by 2030. Massad Boulos also engaged with Libya Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, as reported by Reuters, citing a statement from the prime minister's office. Prime Minister Dbeibah expressed his government's commitment to forging economic collaborations with Washington, which would pave the way for US companies to engage in development and investment projects in Libya. The prime minister's team showcased a range of strategic economic partnership projects, valued at around $70bn. These projects span various sectors including minerals, energy and electricity, and are ready for investment. "Libya's Mellitah to work with Hill on two gas projects" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
