Author: Susan Hauser

Conakry — Guinea’s military-led government has again ordered a suspension of all work linked to the Simandou iron ore project, citing continued failure by the companies involved to reach an agreement on a joint venture structure. In a letter dated July 3 and seen by Reuters, Mines Minister Moussa Magassouba said the two project partners, Rio Tinto and the Chinese-backed Winning Consortium Simandou, missed an extended deadline to finalize a partnership, prompting authorities to step in. Magassouba accused both companies of obstructing progress despite what he described as significant concessions made by the Guinean state. “It is clear the obstruction…

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is now the highest-paid player in the Premier League after agreeing to a new contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2025. The club confirmed the long-anticipated extension after months of speculation over Salah’s future, ending concerns that the Egyptian star could leave on a free transfer. Under the new deal, Salah is reported to earn around £400,000 per week, making him the best-paid player not only in Liverpool’s history but across England’s top flight. The agreement comes at a critical moment for manager Jürgen Klopp, who has already seen key forward Sadio Mané depart…

Kuala Lumpur — Indonesia’s deputy minister of trade, Jerry Sambuaga, used a regional blockchain forum in Malaysia to outline Jakarta’s regulatory approach to cryptocurrency and invite foreign investors to participate in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital asset markets. Sambuaga was a featured speaker at Malaysia International Blockchain Connected 2022, a two-day seminar held June 24–25 that brought together blockchain and crypto stakeholders from across Asia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. He delivered the main address on the opening day, focusing on Indonesia’s rapidly expanding crypto trading sector and the government’s plans to manage its growth. During his…

Cloud-based call centre software firm Aircall has crossed the $100 million mark in annual recurring revenue, a milestone that underscores its rapid growth as it prepares for global expansion and a potential stock market listing. The company, valued at around $1 billion, said the revenue milestone reflects strong demand from businesses shifting their customer support and sales operations to cloud-based platforms. Aircall also announced plans to expand its presence in Singapore and Madrid, moves aimed at strengthening its footprint in Asia and southern Europe. The expansions are expected to support customer growth and talent recruitment as the company scales its…

Washington — The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation that dismantles a decades-old requirement for animal testing in drug development, clearing a major hurdle for modernizing how new medicines are evaluated in the United States. Lawmakers passed the FDA Modernization Act as part of a broader FDA reform package, voting 392–28 in favor. The provision removes the federal mandate that drugmakers rely on animal tests before advancing treatments into human trials, allowing companies to use alternative methods grounded in human biology. Supporters say the change could spare millions of animals, reduce the high failure rate of drugs in…

Canada’s construction sector staged a sharp recovery in 2021, expanding by 6.1 percent in real terms after contracting by 2 percent a year earlier, according to a newly released industry report now available from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The rebound was driven largely by a surge in residential construction, which grew 13 percent last year, alongside a modest pickup in civil engineering activity. Industry analysts point to progress in COVID-19 vaccinations, rising household incomes, and a broader global economic recovery as key factors behind the turnaround. Momentum carried into 2022, with the report projecting real-term growth of about 4 percent for the year.…

Chicago — The global 3D food printing market is poised for explosive growth over the next five years, with revenues expected to surge from about $201 million in 2022 to nearly $1.94 billion by 2027, according to a new industry report released this week. The study, published by MarketsandMarkets, forecasts the sector will grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than 57 percent, driven by rising concern over food waste, advances in food manufacturing technology, and demand for customized nutrition. Researchers point to large scale food production as a key contributor to global food waste, noting that 3D…

London — European banks have been urged to stay alert to the risk of fake news triggering sudden deposit withdrawals, as the war in Ukraine continues to rattle markets and heighten uncertainty across the financial system. The warning came from the European Banking Authority, which said misinformation circulating during periods of heightened geopolitical tension could undermine confidence in individual lenders, even when their underlying financial positions remain sound. “With market sentiment highly volatile and driven by news flow, banks’ liquidity levels can become vulnerable due to the spread of inaccurate information,” the EBA said in its latest risk dashboard, which…

A senior Conservative politician has said the UK government made a serious mistake by allowing the sale of British chip designer Arm, reigniting debate over the country’s approach to protecting strategic technology assets. Speaking this week, the senior Tory figure argued that handing control of Arm to foreign ownership weakened Britain’s long-term position in the global semiconductor industry. The comments mark one of the strongest criticisms yet from within Conservative ranks over the 2016 decision to approve the company’s takeover. Arm, founded in Cambridge, has become one of the most influential chip design firms in the world, with its technology…

Durham, England — A glowing sculpture suspended above the city skyline became a quiet act of remembrance this week as the Lumiere festival of light returned to Durham, dedicating one of its most striking installations to those who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. The artwork, described by organizers as a “chariot in the sky,” hovered above historic streets and landmarks, drawing crowds who paused not for spectacle alone, but for reflection. The installation was created to honour the dead and acknowledge the collective grief experienced by families and communities since the pandemic began. Festival organizers said the piece…