Author Archives: The Esbec Team

Alibaba to sell bonds to repay debt, fund stock buy-back amid low interest rates

Alibaba to sell bonds to repay debt, fund stock buy-back amid low interest rates

Alibaba Group Holding is planning to sell bonds denominated in US dollars and Chinese yuan to help repay debt and fund stock repurchases, as the e-commerce leader bets on declining interest rates to replenish its capital. The principal amount, interest rates, maturity dates and other terms of the notes would be determined at the time of pricing of the offering, the company said in a Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Monday. Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, aims to raise US$5 billion, according to a Reuters report, citing unnamed sources. The dollar bonds will mature in 5.5 years, 10.5 years and 30 years, while the yuan bonds will have tenors of 3.5 years, 5 years, 10 years and 20 years, the report said. Low interest rates in

Tanzania revokes 1,505 mining licenses in Chunya to empower small-scale miners

Tanzania revokes 1,505 mining licenses in Chunya to empower small-scale miners

By  Friday Simbaya Reporter Mwananchi Communications Limited What you need to know: The Ministry of Minerals announced that the revoked areas will now be redistributed to small-scale miners, known locally as MBEREMA. Chunya. In an effort to empower small-scale miners, the government has revoked 1,505 mining licenses in Chunya District, Mbeya Region, citing neglect and abandonment of allocated plots. The Ministry of Minerals announced that the revoked areas will now be redistributed to small-scale miners, known locally as MBEREMA. Chunya, rich in gold deposits, is crucial to the economic growth of both the region and the country. However, many mining plots had been left underutilized by wealthy operators, known as ‘Madigala’, depriving small-scale miners of opportunities. Chairman of the Mbeya Small-Scale Miners Association (MBEREMA), Saddam Kyando, praised the government’s decision

Plastic waste chokes Congo dam, causing widespread power cuts

FILE - A view shows water collected at the dam within the Ruzizi I hydroelectric plant in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

November 18, 2024 Written by VOA FILE – A view shows water collected at the dam within the Ruzizi I hydroelectric plant in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo A tide of plastic waste flowing into a major hydroelectric dam in eastern Congo is causing regular power cuts in several major cities, creating a challenge that local authorities are trying to solve. The Ruzizi dam located at the south end of Lake Kivu, which borders Rwanda, supplies the city of Bukavu and others with electricity and the power outages are hurting local businesses. The problem is linked to the growing use of plastics coupled with a lack of waste collection in the region. Heavy rainfall causes waste to flow down from the mountainous terrain to the lake, where it collects

Govt to support small-holder farmers in crop value chain

Govt to support small-holder farmers in crop value chain

About 10 food crop enterprises have been selected by the Ministry of Agriculture to spearhead climate smart agriculture in 69 rural districts across the country. The crops which include, hass avocado, mangoes, cassava, coffee, cocoa, cashew nut, citrus/oranges, sorghum, soya bean and maize among others are listed under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation project ( UCSATP).  The initiative with an overall financing of Shs354.7m aims at empowering farmers to adopt climate-smart practices, improving productivity, resilience and food security in the face of climate change.  The Acting Principal Agricultural officer in charge of Horticulture at the Ministry Mr Kizito Odongo said, “The project will require that farmers contribute about 20 percent and the government will contribute 80 percent of the matching grant. We will support farmers with financial, marketing and quality inputs

Israeli Strikes On Beirut Kill Six, Including Hezbollah Official

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighbourhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs on November 12, 2024. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP)

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighbourhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs on November 12, 2024. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP) Lebanon said two Israeli strikes on central Beirut killed six people on Sunday, with Hezbollah confirming its spokesperson was among the dead. Israel has been heavily bombing Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, since all-out war erupted on September 23, but attacks on central Beirut have been rarer. The first strike, on Beirut’s Ras al-Nabaa district, killed four people, including Hezbollah’s media relations chief Mohammed Afif, the group and Israel’s military said. Rescuers with the Amal-linked Risala Scouts association use an excavator to search the rubble for survivors or victims, a day after an Israeli airstrike hit their headquarters in the southern Lebanese

Esther Musila laughs off claims about Guardian Angel’s alleged 2nd wife: “Ndio unajua?”

Esther Musila and her hubby were captured dancing to his new song. Photo: Esther Musila. Source: TikTok

Esther Musila shared a video of herself dancing with her hubby, Guardian Angel, and many netizens expressed mixed reactions One fan claimed the gospel singer had secretly gotten a second wife, leaving Musola clapping back with a fire response The couple has always shown couple goals on social media amid criticism from people bothered by their 20-year age gap Esther Musila has reacted to a netizen’s claims that her husband, Guardian Angel, has another wife and child. Esther Musila and her hubby were captured dancing to his new song. Photo: Esther Musila.Source: TikTok The netizen commented on the gospel singer’s video happily dancing to his new song with his wife. Esther Musila’s reaction to hubby’s second wife claims In the video, Guardian looked happy in a matching mauve pantsuit while

Pope Calls For Gaza Genocide Investigation

Palestinian youth share a bike as they cycles past buildings destroyed in previous Israeli bombardment, in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, north of Gaza City on July 3, 2024. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

Palestinian youth share a bike as they cycles past buildings destroyed in previous Israeli bombardment, in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, north of Gaza City on July 3, 2024. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) Pope Francis for the first time tackled claims of Israel’s ongoing “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza in extracts from a forthcoming book published Sunday, urging further investigation into whether Israel’s actions meet the definition. Titled “Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World”, the book includes his latest and most forthright intervention into the more than year-long war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide,” the pontiff wrote in extracts published on the front of Italy’s La Stampa daily on Sunday.

Best restaurants and supermarkets in Nairobi named

Kui Mbugua, General Manager of Uber Eats Kenya (second from left), presents the People's Choice Grocery and Retail Champion 2024 Award to the Artcaffe team. Photo: Uber Eats. Source: UGC Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/business-economy/industry/569359-best-restaurants-supermarkets-nairobi-named/

The Uber Eat Merchants Award 2024 recognised the most outstanding restaurants and supermarkets, honouring those who delivered exceptional service The awards spanned various categories, acknowledging excellence in different types of cuisines and retail operations Winners were determined based on consumer votes and Uber Eats’ operational excellence metrics, reflecting high standards of performance Muyela Roberto is a business journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 9 years of experience in the digital media, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. A recent ranking has listed some of the most acclaimed restaurants and supermarkets with delivery options within the Nairobi area. Kui Mbugua, General Manager of Uber Eats Kenya (second from left), presents the People’s Choice Grocery and Retail Champion 2024 Award to the Artcaffe team. Photo: Uber Eats.Source: UGC The establishments

Taliban seeks international aid for Afghanistans reconstruction

Taliban seeks international aid for Afghanistans reconstruction

A senior Taliban diplomat urged the international community to aid Afghanistan’s recovery during a meeting in Kabul on Sunday, emphasising the destruction caused by decades of conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai called on the United Nations and international NGOs to provide support to Afghanistan in the form of technical help, economic development initiatives and agricultural cooperation. He particularly addressed countries that were previously militarily involved in Afghanistan , claiming they have a moral obligation to help rebuild the country based on the Doha Agreement. 06:51 Taliban attracts Chinese tourists to Afghanistan in an effort to boost the economy Taliban attracts Chinese tourists to Afghanistan in an effort to boost the economy Stanekzai indirectly pointed to Nato countries that took part in US-led operations, claiming

Japans troops to train with US, Australian forces amid concerns over China

Japans troops to train with US, Australian forces amid concerns over China

A Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces diesel-electric submarine Soryu is seen in this undated handout photo released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces, and obtained by Reuters on September 1, 2014. [Handout/Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force via Reuters]

The joint amphibious training is announced after three countries express concerns about ‘dangerous conduct’ by the Chinese military. Japan’s troops will participate in joint training with United States Marines and Australian forces in northern Australia next year, the defence ministers from the three countries have said, as they expressed concerns over the growing threat from the Chinese military. A joint statement released on Sunday reiterated “serious concern” about destabilising actions in the East and South China seas, including “dangerous conduct” by the Chinese military against the Philippines and other vessels from the region. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles hosted his US and Japanese counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Gen Nakatani, for talks in Darwin city. They announced trilateral amphibious training between Australia, Japan and the US Marine rotational force in northern

High Court hints at allowing investigation of IDF failures on October 7

THE HIGH Court of Justice has been a paper tiger in everything concerning the Netanyahu bloc’s interests, says the writer (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Supreme Court justices hint at lifting freeze on IDF review after October 7 investigation stalls. By AVRAHAM BLOCH NOVEMBER 17, 2024 18:27 THE HIGH Court of Justice has been a paper tiger in everything concerning the Netanyahu bloc’s interests, says the writer (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) On Sunday, during a hearing on petitions opposing the State Comptroller’s investigation into the IDF’s actions on October 7, Supreme Court justices suggested they may lift the existing order that currently freezes the Comptroller’s review of the military’s conduct that day. “A brief additional period is necessary to complete discussions between the IDF and the State Comptroller,” Attorney Yonatan Berman from the State Attorney’s High Court Division said during the hearing. “We have not yet reached a satisfactory agreement on the issues, but we

Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic UFC 309: MMA heavyweight championship fight

Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic  UFC 309: MMA heavyweight championship fight

Jon Jones celebrates after his total knockout victory against Stipe Miocic in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden, New York City, US, November 16, 2024 [Sarah Stier/Getty Images via AFP]

Jones sends Miocic into retirement with a brutal back kick to the ribs on UFC 309 fight night in New York. Jon Jones has cemented his position as arguably the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time by pulling off a stunning knockout of Stipe Miocic to retain his heavyweight belt at the UFC 309 fight night. The 37-year-old American looked fully in control throughout the main event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, preventing his opponent from leveraging his boxing skills and finishing with a brutal heel to the body that left Miocic on the canvas clutching his ribs. “That body shot man, no matter how tough you are, the liver’s the liver,” a jubilant Jones said in the cage following his victory. In the aftermath, 42-year-old

Americans werent interested in prolonging Obamas policies through Harris

FORMER US president Barack Obama speaks during a presidential election campaign rally for then-candidate Kamala Harris in Philadelphia last month. (photo credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)

Americans felt the vibe – that American wokeness and moral self-doubt were insidious weaknesses. Therefore, they ruled that the Obama era must finally end. By DAVID M. WEINBERG NOVEMBER 17, 2024 09:09 FORMER US president Barack Obama speaks during a presidential election campaign rally for then-candidate Kamala Harris in Philadelphia last month. (photo credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS) More than last week’s US presidential vote being a victory for Donald Trump, it was a searing defeat for Barack Obama. This month’s real headline is “Trump thrashes Obama again.” In a torrent of impassioned campaign stops over the past two months, former president Obama made it clear that this election was a referendum on his policies. He explicitly warned that unless Kamala Harris was elected president, everything that he stood for and worked

Youth leader Chege Majuice alleges Gachaguas strategy to attend functions as retaliation

Youth leader Chege Majuice (l). Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua (r) at a church service in Kahawa West. Photo: Chege Majuice/Rigathi Gachagua. Source: Facebook

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya. Former university student leader Chege Majuice has suggested that ex-deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is plotting revenge following his impeachment. Youth leader Chege Majuice (l). Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua (r) at a church service in Kahawa West. Photo: Chege Majuice/Rigathi Gachagua.Source: Facebook Chege claims that Gachagua has devised a strategy to attend all functions involving Kenya Kwanza officials, intending to undermine their leadership and bring them down. According to the youth leader, Gachagua’s popularity is not rooted in a genuine desire to lead the country, but rather in his potential role in dismantling President William Ruto’s regime. “Gachagua will mop the floor with you