NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan environmentalists have condemned a decision by soft drinks manufacturer Coca-Cola to switch from green-colored plastic bottles to clear easily-recyclable bottles for their Sprite drinks. “Coca-Cola’s latest campaign is nothing short of greenwashing,” Fredrick Njehu, a senior political advisor at GreenSpace Africa, told Zenger News. Corporate greenwashing is behavior or activities that make people believe that a company is doing more to protect the environment than it really is. “Corporate capture in the production and distribution of plastic bottles cannot be corrected through collection and recycling. These have proven to be unsustainable, backward, and in total disregard of efforts to curb…
Author: zenger.news
MAROUA, Cameroon — Landi Ristatou Man never wanted her son, Zanguim Jean de Dieu Man, to enlist in the Cameroonian military for fear of losing him. And, so, when the 75-year-old widow received news that her 25-year-old son was among the 13 soldiers killed during three Boko Haram attacks in northern Cameroon, the pain of his loss overwhelmed her. “She’s unwilling to answer any calls because she is devastated,” Douna Belmond Man, brother to the fallen soldier, told Zenger News. “She’s asthmatic. The news of this death may only worsen her condition. My brother chose to enlist in the army of…
NAIROBI, Kenya — Elena Kuoni, 49, a Russian-born German citizen, always imagined Africa to be a continent of endless sunshine when she first arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1994, before moving to Conakry, Guinea. So she mistakenly believed that she wouldn’t need warm clothing on her maiden-trip to Kenya in July 2005. “Shock on me!” she told Zenger News. “I arrived in July in the middle of the cold season, and I wasn’t prepared at all. I needed to buy warm clothes for myself. I mean sweaters, scarves, cardigans, and shawls. I moved around Nairobi in search of good-quality…
More people are working, and they’re making more money. That’s the conclusion from the U.S. government’s monthly job report released on Friday, Aug. 6, which showed an addition of nearly 1 million jobs to the economy, a precipitous drop in unemployment and steady increase in wage growth. Following a jobs report roundly praised by economists — one called it a “blockbuster” — some are wondering if the economic momentum could lead to “overheating,” with calls for easing federal economic help growing. Meanwhile, others are sharply watching the increasing COVID-19 infection rates as the Delta variant of the virus continues to spread…
A 12-year-old former circus bear that was rescued in Ukraine and was able to experience her first natural hibernation has died. Jambolina died on Aug. 5, due to complications from an anesthetic injection before a dental operation in Switzerland. Staff at Arosa Bear Sanctuary in the Swiss Alps, where Jambolina had been relocated, said they are devastated by the news, but glad Jambolina had a better life than during her first decade of existence. Jambolina had been due to be sterilized, but she was also in need of a dental restoration, according to the sanctuary. The routine intervention was intended…
NEW DELHI — The Indian Supreme Court on Aug. 5. said that the allegations about the Indian government allegedly using Israeli software Pegasus to spy on people “are serious if news reports are correct.” A bench of Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana and Justice Surya Kant, however, asked the people who approached the top court why was any criminal complaint not registered by persons affected by the snooping. “We want to ask some questions,” said the Bench during the hearing. “No doubt the allegations are serious if reports in newspapers are correct. The majority of petitions rely on foreign newspapers, but…
NEW DELHI — India is on the verge of joining an elite group of countries that boast the capability to indigenously design and put together an aircraft carrier, delivering the iconic Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1, popularly known as INS Vikrant. “The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘Vikrant,’ designed by Indian Navy’s Design Team and built by @cslcochin, undertook its maiden sea sortie today. A wonderful example of @makeinindia. Congratulations to @indiannavy and @cslcochinon this historic milestone,” tweeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain welcomed the country to the “club of nations capable of manufacturing aircraft carriers” and said France will look forward…
SINGAPORE — Singaporean banks are leading their south and southeast Asian peers in the recovery from Covid-19, S&P Global Ratings said on Aug. 5. The strong second-quarter results of Singapore’s big three banks show the country’s banking sector is on track for significantly improved earnings, a brightening business outlook, and normalizing credit costs, as per the rating agency. “Singapore banks are clear beneficiaries of strong macroeconomic tailwinds. They are benefiting from the economic rebound in the United States and China in particular,” said Rujun Duan, S&P Global rating credit analyst. “Resurging working capital and investment demand from corporate clients, a vigorous mergers and…
AHMEDABAD, India — The E-commerce marketplace Flipkart on Aug. 5. announced the expansion of its supply chain in Gujarat with the addition of four new facilities to support local sellers and to cater to the growing demand for e-commerce. The expansion will enable Flipkart to serve customers from the state and nearby regions in a fast and seamless manner, contributing to economic growth by enabling market access to MSMEs and other local sellers. “Over 52% of new Flipkart consumers are from tier-II, and beyond cities, a testament to the growing adoption of e-commerce services and more opportunities for sellers from these regions,”…
NEW DELHI — Indian telecommunications services firm Bharti Airtel on Aug. 5. announced the launch of ‘Airtel Office Internet’ — a unified enterprise-grade solution for emerging digital connectivity needs of small businesses, SOHOs, and early-stage tech start-ups. Airtel has partnered with Google Cloud and Cisco for the initiative. In a regulatory filing, the company said that Airtel Office Internet will provide users secure high-speed data connectivity, conferencing, and business productivity tools as a unified solution with one plan and one bill. “More than ever, emerging businesses across India are looking for reliable connectivity and digital productivity tools that enhance their agility, efficiency and enable them to…