Solar Power May Get Boost From Africa’s Biggest Oil Exporter: Business News Roundup

Solar Power May Get Boost From Africa’s Biggest Oil Exporter

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil exporter, may be about to turn sunward to generate more of its power.

Senators in the capital of Abuja are debating allocation of $30 million to solar projects in this year’s budget, according to the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria

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Gold Suffers Worst Run since October as Slide below $1,200 Looms

Gold is feeling the strain. The valuable mineral is being tugged back down toward $1,200 an ounce in the worst losing run since October as positive U.S. economic data reinforce expectations that interest rates will probably be raised several times this year, starting with a hike next week.

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Why the global arms trade is booming

LAST month the emirate of Abu Dhabi held the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), the Middle East’s largest arms fair. The four-day event was a roaring success, playing host to 1,235 exhibitors and a record number of delegates. On the last day, the United Arab Emirates announced $5.2bn worth of weapons purchases from suppliers including France, Russia and America. The Gulf state’s hunger for big guns is hardly exceptional.

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Mass entertainment in the digital age is still about blockbusters, not endless choice

One of the axioms of technological progress is that it democratizes entertainment, distributing delights to the masses that were once reserved for the elites. More high-quality entertainment is available to more people on the planet than ever before. At the same time individuals across the globe can find an audience much more easily than was previously possible. The ability to access whatever entertainment people want digitally and on demand has transformed diversions in societies both rich and poor, changing the lives of billions.

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Politics a Risk to S. African Recovery After Worst Year in Seven

Continued political instability that hurt investor confidence and saw South Africa’s economy expand at the slowest rate since 2009 last year could threaten a recovery in 2017, economists said.

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Written by Amina Martha.