1. What Doesn’t Kill Emerging Markets Makes Them Stronger
Emerging markets make up two-thirds of the world’s economic growth, but they’re countries in which the politics matter as much as the economics. One revolution, one coup, or one sanction can turn growth into risk. This is the precarious global economy in which we now live.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb might call these emerging markets brittle. In his new, insightful book ‘‘Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder,’’ Taleb outlines a different spectrum by which to judge whether an institution is hearty or not.
2. Maize Farmers Face Unstable Prices in Market Reforms
Grain farmers face fresh marketing uncertainties after the March 4 General Election with the privatisation of the National Cereals and Produce Board. The privatisation of the board is a key plank in reforms aimed at attracting money for agriculture. The NCPB is among 14 marketing agencies that will be restructured under three Bills, which President Kibaki assented into law 10 days ago.
3. Kenya Needs 4000 digital Engineers
Kenya will need at least 4000 digital systems technicians by 2015 to meet the growing demand for the services, according to Vision 2030 director General Mugo Kibati. Kibati said the need for a pool of experts was driven by deepening mobile penetration and a growing economy. He was speaking at a briefing hosted by Samsung Engineering Academy, where he advocated for locally trained experts.
Early last week, the presidential assented to the Technical and Vocational Education Training Bill 2012,which aims to create a conducive environment for development of such training facilities.
4. Boeing 787 Suspends Deliveries
The American aerospace giant Boeing halted deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner on Friday but said it would continue to build the aircraft while safety experts examine its battery and electrical systems. The announcement capped a week in which all 50 787s in service around the world were grounded on orders from multiple aviation authorities to investigate the cause of two incidents, including a fire, linked to its batteries.
5. Team Seeks Probe on Sale of KNAC Properties
A watchdog committee has asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the irregular disposal of prime properties belonging to the Kenya National Assurance Company (KNAC), now under liquidation. The properties include Kibarage Way House, Muthaiga House, Nyali Manager’s House, Eldoret Block 13/177 and Mua Park Plot LR No 209/11241, which were sold without valuation and through single sourcing.
6. Harsh Penalties for Phone Users Illegal
MOBILE operators have up to February 11 to register all Sim cards on their networks before they start attracting penalties for having unregistered subscribers.
However, the penalties on users, as earlier mentioned by Information PS Bitange Ndemo, are found to be non-existent. About one million mobile subscribers have registered their Sim cards in the last two weeks due to fears of attracting heavy penalties or having their lines suspended.
7. EAC to Adopt Cross Border Trade Deals
The East African Community Secretariat plans to fast-track the adoption of two crucial Bills to ease trade within the region. The EAC Council of Ministers, regional lawmakers and integration officials are set to meet in Burundi on January 29 to consider the EAC Vehicle Overload Control Bill, 2012 and the One Stop Border Posts Bill, 2012.
8. Desktops, Laptops, Still Top
Desktop computers and laptops will remain the main source of Internet traffic — at 80 per cent — this year despite the huge upsurge in the use of smartphones and tablets, says a new report.
“Strong sales of smartphones and tablets have prompted suggestions that the PC is becoming an anachronism. But PCs have remained strong. The installed base of PCs should increase albeit at a slower pace in 2013” said the report by Deloitte titled Technology, Media and Telecommunications Predictions.