Africa Business Radio

Singapore’s parliament is debating controversial legislation that the government says is necessary to counter alleged foreign interference, but opposition parties, rights groups, social media platforms and others worry is too broad in scope.The law will give authorities sweeping powers, including compelling internet, social media platforms and website operators to provide user information, block content and remove applications.The government would also be empowered to designate organisations or individuals politically significant persons if their work is perceived to be directed towards a political end in Singapore, without allowing them an opportunity to challenge the designation.

Facebook has dismissed as ludicrous suggestions it contributed to the US Capitol riot on January 6, a charge the social media giant expects will be levelled in an upcoming whistle-blower interview.Facebook’s vice president of policy and global affairs, Nick Clegg pushed back at the assertion its platforms are toxic for teens, days after a tense recent congressional hearing in which US lawmakers grilled the company over its effect on the mental health of young users.The New York Times reported that Clegg sought to preempt the whistle-blower by penning a 1,500-word memo to staff alerting them of the misleading accusations.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud says Saudi Arabia held discussions with regional rival Tehran last month as talks to ease tensions continue under Iran’s conservative President Ebrahim Raisi.He says these discussions are still in the exploratory phase, and we hope that they lay the foundation to address issues between the two sides.Prince Faisal did not disclose the location of the meeting or the level of representation, while Borrell welcomed the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The investigation published reveals that Jordan’s King Abdullah II is among dozens of world leaders to have hidden millions of dollars in offshore tax havens and secretly bought luxury homes around the globe.The documents show how King Abdullah II created a network of offshore companies and tax havens to amass a $100m property empire from Malibu, California to Washington, DC and London.The report says Abdullah also owns three luxury apartments in a complex in Washington, DC with panoramic views of the Potomac River, and a house in Ascot, one of England’s most expensive towns, along with multimillion-dollar apartments in central London.

Ecuador’s president Guillermo Lasso is insisting all of his investments are legal after the Pandora Papers revealed he operated through 14 offshore companies, most of them based in Panama.El Universo newspaper reports that the companies were closed only after the leftist government of Rafael Correa passed a law banning candidates from being the beneficial owners of companies located in tax havens.The president says 10 of the offshore companies mentioned were already inactive, while he denies involvement with the other four. He says all his investments, in and out of Ecuador, are legal.

US President Joe Biden congratulated Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, saying the historic partnership between the two nations will help them face the world’s ongoing challenges.Biden says the US-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the world, and looks forward to working closely with Prime Minister Kishida to strengthen cooperation.Biden says the historic partnership between the two democracies will continue to be a critical asset as they work together to take on the challenges.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta says the Pandora Papers leaks - which showed that his family secretly owned a network of offshore companies for decades - will enhance the financial transparency and openness required in his country and around the globe.President Kenyatta says that the movement of illicit funds, proceeds of crime and corruption thrived in an environment of secrecy and darkness.Mr Kenyatta added that the Pandora Papers and subsequent follow up audits would lift the veil for those who cannot explain their assets or wealth.President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is out of the country, has promised a comprehensive response upon his return.

South Africa’s Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy, says the spill from a chemical plant attacked by rioters in July in the port city of Durban has caused an environmental disaster.She said it could several years for the local coastline to recover.The minister said a criminal case had been opened against the chemical company, UPL, which was found not to have obtained environmental permits to run the plant.Its warehouse was torched during the widespread riots sparked by the prison sentence given to South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma.

Former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has charged African lawyers to work to protect democracy, good governance, human rights, as a means of bringing an end to growing conflicts and violence in the continent.He urged them to advocate for the establishment of a strong rule of law, describing it as a basis for accountable governance which would help prevent and mitigate violent crimes.He says that all actors within the judicial system have a critical role to play in advancing the course of justice towards bringing peace and development to society.

The National Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members across the country to resume work fully from Wednesday.President of the association, Dr Dare Godiya Ishaya, explained that the association took the decision to suspend the industrial action due to a simple majority vote of members at a meeting held on Sunday.Ishaya, however, stated that the strike has been suspended for six weeks to allow the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the doctors.He said while most of the issues that led to the nationwide strike still remained unaddressed, the association decided to suspend the action for the period because of interventions from the President, the National Assembly, and the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association.

The Coalition of Northern Groups has opposed the zoning arrangement by political parties, describing it as unconstitutional and a plot to intimidate the north from contesting for the presidency in 2023.CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman says the group aligns with the position of the Northern Governors’ Forum, asking the political parties to jettison the idea of zoning the post to the southern region of Nigeria. He says the north will not be obliged to any zoning arrangement for elective positions in the forthcoming general election.The CNG resolved that zoning of elective positions is unconstitutional, undemocratic and must be jettisoned.

Governors of the South-South region of the country have agreed to set up a regional security outfit, which according to them will be launched soon.Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, says the Council resolved that bearing in mind that most of the BRACED states have established their state security organs.The governors also resolved that states in the region should join the suit filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service challenging the collection of Value Added Tax by states.He says governors equivocally support the decision for states to collect Value Added Tax and resolved to join the suit before the Supreme Court.

Lagos State Government has demanded a new revenue sharing formula that is fair, equitable and reflects the contribution of stakeholders to the common purse.Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state also wanted a revenue formula that enhances the capacity to deliver high-quality services and dividends of democracy to Nigerians.He says Lagos is more than just another state in the Nigerian federation as there is no tribe in the country that has no significant stake in the state.The governor also appealed to all stakeholders to approach the review process with open minds.

Qatar’s top diplomat says the Taliban’s moves on girls’ education in Afghanistan are very disappointing and called on the group’s leadership to look to Doha for how to run an Islamic system.Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was referring to, among other things, the Taliban’s refusal to allow Afghan female secondary school students to resume their studies, weeks after the group took power.Doha has become a key broker in Afghanistan following last month’s withdrawal of US forces, helping to evacuate thousands of foreigners and Afghans, engaging the new Taliban rulers and supporting operations at Kabul airport.

Malawi's telecoms regulator has fined the local business of India's Bharti Airtel over $2.5m for failing to give customers airtime they were owed as part of a loyalty scheme.The Competition and Fair Trade Commission launched an investigation after receiving complaints from customers.It found that Airtel Malawi had stopped automatically crediting customers' accounts with monthly bonuses - a move which enabled it to make a financial gain of about $2.5m.Airtel Malawi managing director Charles Kamoto denied the charges levelled.

Ethiopia’s ministry of foreign says it has given seven senior UN officials 72 hours to leave the country for meddling in the internal affairs of the country. The list includes the country head of the UN children's fund, Unicef, Adele Khodr, and Grant Leaity, the acting head of the office for humanitarian affairs, UNOCHA.The UN has been very involved in trying to get aid into the war-torn region of Tigray. It estimates that more than five million people in the north need humanitarian assistance.The UN's humanitarian chief blamed the Ethiopian government for what he called a de-facto blockade of aid in Tigray.

Somalia’s first large-scale factory producing much-needed medical oxygen has been opened in the capital, Mogadishu.The plant will produce 1,000 cylinders of oxygen per week and is seen as a huge step forward in strengthening the country’s public health infrastructure.Health Minister Fawzia Abikar Nur admitted that people had great difficulty in getting medical oxygen, vital in saving patients’ lives when the pandemic first hit.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a new Covid-19 vaccination certificate, which he said would ease travel and access to events that require proof of vaccination.He pressed Britain to relax travel restrictions imposed on his country after discussing the issue with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.Mr Ramaphosa also eased pandemic restrictions, including reducing the hours of a nationwide curfew, now in place from midnight to 4 am. He ended a ban on weekend alcohol sales and allowed larger public gatherings.He says the government aims to administer 250,000 first dose vaccinations every single weekday until mid-December.

Algeria has recalled its ambassador from Paris, accusing France of unacceptable interference in its affairs.Algeria says it was responding to comments attributed to President Emmanuel Macron by French newspaper Le Monde.The diplomatic spat comes days after France cut the number of visas it issues for citizens of Algeria and other North African countries.

The Sudanese government says the country is on the point of running out of essential medicines, fuel, and wheat.The cabinet says that while disaffected eastern tribes had some valid grievances, their two-week blockade of Sudan’s main port was harming the whole population.It promised to work on a solution to the economic and political marginalisation of eastern Sudan and urged the protesters to join in talks.