African Countries of the Future 2013/14

Jacqueline Walls | 09/08/2013

South Africa has been crowned as the African Country of the Future for 2013/14 by fDi Magazine, with Morocco in second position and Mauritius in third. New entries into the top 10 include Nigeria and Botswana. Jacqueline Walls reports.

One of the economic powerhouses of the African continent, South Africa has been named fDi Magazine’s African Country of the Future 2013/14. A worthy winner, South Africa has consistently outperformed its African neighbours in FDI attraction since fDi Markets records began in 2003. Figures for 2012 build upon South Africa’s historical prominence as an FDI destination with the country attracting about one-fifth of all investments into the continent – more than double its closest African rival, Morocco. In 2012, FDI into South Africa amounted to $4.6bn-worth of capital investment and the creation of almost 14,000 jobs.

In the five years or so since the financial crisis made its impact felt, global FDI remains 20% lower than figures recorded in 2008. Any hints of global recovery in FDI in 2010 and 2011 have been overshadowed by the 14.3% decline in 2012. In the context of this decline, the number of investments into the African continent fell to a lesser extent than any other world regions, down 7.9% in 2012. However figures for the first five months of 2013 signal that FDI into Africa is falling at about the same rate as global averages, down 27% compared to 28% globally.
Unrest, corruption and severe income disparities persist in Africa, though an emerging middle class with increased disposable income, a marked improvement in governance and the availability of natural resources present an attractive opportunity for investors. According to a recent report by the African Development Bank, Africa’s economy is growing faster than any other continent. Of the 54 African countries, 26 have now achieved middle-income status, with some countries, such as South Africa, Morocco and Mauritius, significantly outperforming the likes of Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

South Africa's resilience
South Africa claimed the title of fDi’s African Country of the Future 2013/14 by performing well across most categories, obtaining a top three position for Economic Potential, Infrastructure and Business Friendliness. Its attractiveness to investors is evident in its recent FDI performance, where the country defied the global trend with 2011 and 2012 figures surpassing its pre-crisis 2008 statistics. Despite a slight decline of 3.9% in 2012, South Africa increased its market share of global FDI, which further increased in the first five months of 2013 as the country attracted 1.37% of global greenfield investment projects. According to fDi Markets, South Africa now ranks as the 16th top FDI destination country in the world.
South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, was the top destination for FDI into Africa and is one of only five African cities that attracted more investments in the first five months of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012. South Africa ranked third behind the US and the UK as a top source market for the African continent in 2012, accounting for 9.2% of FDI projects.
In 2010, South Africa became the ‘S’ of the BRICS – five major emerging national economies made up by Brazil, Russia, India and China. While FDI into South Africa fell 3.9% in 2012, this was the lowest recorded decline of the BRICS grouping which, on average, experienced a 20.7% decline in FDI. In its submission for fDi’s African Countries of the Future 2013/14, Trade and Investment South Africa (TISA) stresses the importance of the country's attachments to its BRICS partners. “South Africa’s participation in the BRICS grouping is significant… as it provides important opportunities to build South Africa’s domestic manufacturing base, enhance value-added exports, promote technology sharing, support small business development and expand trade and investment opportunities,” says TISA.
Familiar look at the top
South Africa, Morocco and Mauritius have maintained their top three positions in the ranking, though Morocco has been ousted from the top spot in part due to its 17% FDI decline in 2012. Home to the Tangier Free Zone (ranked sixth in fDi’s Global Free Zones of the Future 2012/13), Morocco still provides a healthy FDI story, attracting 8.3% of all investments into Africa last year. The country ranked second in the Infrastructure category and joint top for FDI Strategy.
Egypt ranks fourth in fDi’s African Countries of the Future 2013/14 table. However, as these results went to press, turmoil erupted in the country following the ousting of its president, Mohammed Morsi. As fDi Magazine’s African Countries of the Future ranking is primarily based on the analysis of FDI data, it is important to note that prior to the current political situation, the country had witnessed a 20% increase in inward investment in 2012.
Kenya has climbed the overall rankings, moving from 10th in the 2011/12 ranking to fifth position this year. Since 2008, FDI into the country more than doubled and the latest figures from fDi Markets show that Kenya has already attracted 9.43% of inward investment into Africa in the first five months of 2013. Currently, Kenya ranks second behind South Africa as the top FDI destination in 2013. Kenya continues to diversify its economy and the widely adopted use of M-Pesa mobile payment has opened the door to many new investment opportunities. Nigeria and Botswana are the new entrants in the top 10, ranking in seventh and eighth place, respectively.
Places of potential
South Africa is top of the Economic Potential table. The country's GDP stands at more than $5.8bn and it is the largest economy in Africa. South Africa has attracted more R&D investments than other African country and accounts for the largest number of patents registered in the continent. Exports from the country increased 24% in 2011 whereas imports increased 18% when compared to 2010 figures, and both were more than 13% higher than 2008 levels.
Nigeria comes in second behind South Africa in the Economic Potential category. Despite major issues such as corruption, security and infrastructure inadequacies blighting the country in recent years, Nigeria has seen its GDP almost treble since the turn of the century. According to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission’s submission for fDi’s African Countries of the Future, the Nigerian government is keenly aware that major issues need to be tackled in order for the country to unlock its potential. To address this, it says the government has “implemented various improvement measures in order to reach its goal of being one of the world's 20 largest economies by 2020.”
Following a slight decline in FDI in 2009/10, investments into Nigeria increased 41% in 2011 and a further 20% in 2012. The oil industry is a dominant feature of the Nigerian economy, though the communications sector is also a strong area of growth. According to fDi Markets, FDI in the communications sector accounted for one-quarter of all investments in the country in 2012, and as penetration levels remain relatively low in this large and growing consumer market, this sector continues to offer huge opportunities to existing and new players alike.
A new entrant into the top 10 for Economic Potential, Kenya ranked third thanks largely to its strong performance in FDI attraction. Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, was the fastest growing African city for FDI between 2009 and 2012 and was second only to Johannesburg as a destination for FDI in 2012. Many initiatives are currently being developed to drive the Kenyan economy and in turn encourage investors into the country. In its submission for fDi’s African Countries of the Future, KenInvest says: “The development of the national investment policy… is aimed at streamlining the investment promotion and facilitation process in Kenya to make it simpler. Full implementation of the… new constitution is on its own expected to increase the level of foreign participation in the country”.
A well-administered country by regional standards, Ghana ranks fourth in the Economic Potential category of fDi’s African Countries of the Future 2013/14. In the past few years, Ghana has attracted its largest ever FDI project following the discovery of major offshore oil reserves in 2007. In July 2009, South African company New Alpha Refinery announced plans to construct a new $6bn oil refinery in Accra in what will be the largest refinery in west Africa. With production set to begin in 2015, the refinery should initially produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day with a view to eventually doubling capacity.
Labour and costs
Mauritius tops the table in Africa when it comes to the Labour Environment category. With a reputation for political and social stability, Mauritius is recognised as a middle-income country with a greater degree of equality compared with other African nations. High-end FDI has been a boon to Mauritius, with more than half of all inward investment involved in the business and financial services sectors. On its own, Mauritius's financial services sector accounts for 13% of the country's GDP and directly employs more than 15,000 highly skilled professionals.
Tunisia ranks second in the Labour Environment category. Currently undergoing great social and political change, Tunisia has one of the top tertiary education enrolment rates in Africa, combined with a comparatively high life expectancy. Being home to eight of Africa’s top 200 universities has helped Egypt place in third, while Algeria and Libya complete the top five.
Madagascar is the leading African country in the Cost Effectiveness category. Low wages combined with low property costs have helped Madagascar attract investors involved in manufacturing and extraction, with these activities accounting for 40% of investments on the island. One of the world's poorest countries, Mauritania is in second place in this ranking. Although rich in natural reserves, the country has been unable to capitalise on its discovery of oil in 2001.
Infrastructure issues
Despite the continent experiencing some economic growth, Africa's infrastructure remains a major constraint that hinders its ability to unlock its vast human and economic potential. Africa only invests 4% of its collective GDP in its infrastructure.
Egypt offers one of the more advanced infrastructure set-ups in Africa, and as such is awarded the top spot in our Infrastructure category. Prior to the unrest that the country is currently experiencing, Egypt had a thriving tourist industry which accounted for more than 10% of its economic output. Airports in Egypt offer connections to more than 100 international destinations, and the country is also home to a number of significant ports due to its strategic location between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Egypt also has one of the highest rates of internet usage in Africa.
Morocco is another African country with a relatively well developed infrastructure system. Moroccan airports are connected to more than 80 international destinations and its largest city, Casablanca, is home to the second largest port in Africa. Future infrastructure projects for Morocco include a $35bn investment in its rail networks as well as the development of the world’s largest solar power plant, which commenced construction in May 2013.
South Africa is in third place in the Infrastructure category. The South African government has set out plans to invest $92bn in its infrastructure over the next three years. The biggest chunk of the investment will come from the South African electricity utility company Eskom, and incorporates plans for two new power stations, Medupi and Kusile, which are expected to start producing electricity in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Business friendly?
When it comes to business-friendliness, South Africa is fDi's top African country. A testament to its open and stable business environment, the country boasts the highest cluster of knowledge-based companies. South Africa also recorded the highest number of expansions in the region on the real-time FDI database, fDi Markets, a clear indication that business are happy to do business in the country.
Egypt ranks second for business-friendliness, with fDi Markets recording nine FDI signals (early-warning signs that a company may be considering investment) in the past 18 months. Given the country's current political unrest, it remains to be seen how many of these projects will come to fruition.
With one of the lowest corporation tax rates in the region, Mauritius is third for business-friendliness. According to the latest World Bank Doing Business ranking, Mauritius is the easiest location in Africa for doing business, and is positioned 19th globally.

Comparative strategies

Based on information submitted by African countries with regards to their FDI strategies, Mauritius and Morocco finish joint top of our FDI Strategy category.
Promoting itself as "the jewel of Africa", Mauritius is targeting investors in the financial services, hospitality, property development, IT and business process outsourcing sectors. In its submission, the Mauritian Board of Investment (BOI) looks to the future of the African region, saying: “Since the global investment trend is gradually shifting towards Africa, BOI is positioning itself to play a crucial role in positioning Mauritius as the gateway to this new frontier of growth.”
Morocco’s FDI-friendly environment is encapsulated in Agence Marocaine de Developpement des Investissements' African Countries of the Future submission, which says: “With its solid macroeconomic fundamentals, unique set of free-trade agreements, competitive labour costs, world-class infrastructure, business-friendly environment and attractive set of incentives, Morocco has all the ingredients to become a location of the future.”
One of the world’s largest producers of diamonds, Botswana enjoys stable economic growth, low levels of corruption and a stable political regime, one of the few such success stories in Africa. Botswana Investment and Trade Centre has recently launched a brand awareness scheme with the slogan ‘Go Botswana’ which it states “highlights our national assets, including our people, culture, tourism attractions, business potential and our reputation as a country with good governance.”
Namibia, which is placed in fourth in the FDI Strategy category, highlighted in its submission its efforts to realign its strategy in order to attract future FDI. Its entry states: “To kick-start the process of addressing Namibia’s economic and business ratings, consultations with World Bank experts are already under way. We have established the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) to improve service delivery and the effective administration of business and intellectual property rights registration by serving as a one-stop centre. The review of our incentives also cements the country’s commitment to increasing greenfield and brownfield FDI.”
Africa has experienced significant growth in the past decade. However this growth should be viewed in context – the countries on the continent are expanding from a low base and living standards as well as business environments often do not measure up to other world regions. Yet this represents an opportunity for future growth. If the region continues in its efforts to tackle poverty, corruption, inadequate infrastructures and political issues, Africa’s competitiveness on a global scale can only get better.

Methodology

To create the shortlist for fDi African Countries of the Future 2013/14, the fDi Intelligence division of the Financial Times collected data using the specialist online FDI tools fDi Benchmark and fDi Markets as well as other sources. Data was collected for 55 countries under five categories: Economic Potential, Labour Environment, Cost-Effectiveness, Infrastructure and Business Friendliness. A sixth category was added: FDI Strategy. In this category, 20 submissions were received from African countries regarding their current strategy for FDI promotion and this was scored by the judging panel. Countries scored up to a maximum of 10 points under each individual data point, which were weighted by importance to the FDI decision-making process in order to compile both the subcategory rankings, as well as the overall African Countries of the Future ranking.

TOP TEN PEACEFUL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Top 10 Peaceful Countries of the World

Here are outlined the top 10 most relaxing nations around the world of the world according to the Global Peace Index 2013.

10.  Slovenia

Slovenia, the nation of Central European countries appears as 10^th spot as a peaceful nation of 2012 out of 153 nations having 1.358 serenity credit rating at GPI 2012. The number of internal and exterior wars conducted by Slovenia is 1.5 out of 5.

9.  Norway

Norwegian has attained 9^th spot as peaceful nation of 2012 with 1.356 peacefulness credit rating calculated by peace indicators. From 2009 to 2012, Norwegian has also obtained the highest Human Development Index position on this planet.

8. Canada

Canada has very high degree of living in this whole planet. Canada is termed as the 8^th spot as peaceful nation of 2012 having a good score of 1.355.

7.  Finland

Serenity ranking of Finland according to the GPI 2011 is 1.352 that creates it the 7^th spot as peaceful nation of 2012 on the planet.

6.  Austria

Austria, the non-coastal country in Central European countries, has taken the 6^th spot as peaceful nation of 2012 having 1.337 peacefulness credit rating.

5.  Czech Republic

Czech Republic rates a 1.25 governmental volatility and the total of 1.320 serenity credit rating as determined through peace indicators this year becoming the 5th relaxing country of 2012.

4.  Denmark

Having a score of 1.299 scoring for GPI 2012, the Denmark has 4^th spot as peaceful nation of 2012.

3.  Japan

A Powerful economic supremacy and the smallest rate of inner and exterior situations makes Japan the third most peaceful nation of the planet. It obtained 1.267 peacefulness score at the GPI 2012.

2. New Zealand

New Zealand is a country of greenery and verdant field. New Zealand has the honour of being second on this list of GPO with a score of 1.287 at peace index.

1. Iceland

Iceland is rated the most relaxing country of 2011 due to low rate of governmental uncertainty, army expenses and the number of internal and external situations conducted this year. It holds 1.048 global peaces rating at the Global Peace Index 2012.

THE MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

 For Peace & Stability, The U.S. Ranks Last

Gun violence, the war on terrorism, and political divisions in Washington make the United States rank dead last in peace and stability compared to every rich developed nation. According to the Global Peace Index, released on Tuesday, the U.S. ranks even worse than African nations like Tanzania.
If you want peace of mind, dear immigrants, don’t come here, might be the message.
The Index measures the state of peace in 162 countries and is conducted by the Institute for Economics and Peace in New York. The index uses qualitative and quantitative data to gauge internal and external levels of peace on matters such as number of jailed citizens, militarization, political participation and freedom of the press, among other things.
The GPI Report provides an analysis of the Institute’s data, identifying trends in peace over time, as well as the key drivers of peace and an economic calculation of the impact of violence to the global economy.
War and political violence have placed a target on America’s collective backs.  The United States surely isn’t licked yet in comparison to its wealthy friends in Europe, Canada and in the Asian-Pacific rim.
On individual matters, the U.S. scores quite high. On a scale of one to five, with five being least secure, the U.S. scores poorly on gun-related violence, terrorism, overseas conflicts, education spending, and militarization. It does best on adult literacy, civil liberties and — to some this may seem totally ironic, but — the electoral process.
The slideshow below shows the 10 most peaceful countries in the GPI.
Here’s a look at the most peaceful and the least peaceful in certain parts of the world.
North America
Most Peaceful:   Canada                                Most Stressed:  The United States
Latin America
Most Peaceful: Uruguay                                Most Stressed: Colombia
Continental Europe
Most Peaceful: Denmark                               Most Stressed: Russia
Middle East

Most Peaceful: Qatar                                      Most Stressed: Syria
Africa
Most Peaceful: Botswana                              Most Stressed: Somalia
Asia Sub-Continent
Most Peaceful: Bhutan                                   Most Stressed: Afghanistan
Asia-Pacific
Most Peaceful: New Zealand                       Most Stresssed: North Korea

CHINA IN AFRICA

China in Africa: New challenges beyond the commodities super cycle

Image by Mark Ralston AFP/Getty Images

3 hours ago How We Made It In Africa.

Following the decline in China's demand for commodities during the summer months, its imports of crude oil, copper and iron ore are slowly beginning to recover again. To this day, China's economic relations with Africa are shaped by securing the supply of resources by financing infrastructure and other major projects. There is indeed much to suggest that China's future activities will be more complex and by no means limited to the commodities sector.

Africa's importance for Chinese external trade has increased steadily over the last 10 years. Bilateral trade with African countries grew in 2012 to a volume of US$198bn – with South Africa and Angola topping the list. Although trade with Africa represents a comparatively small share of China's external trade at just over 5%, the rapid increase is not least a reflection of the desire to share in Africa's growth.
In the next five years there are 13 African countries that are likely to join the ranks of the world's 25 fastest growing economies, including commodities exporters such as Nigeria, Zambia and Sierra Leone. This is also reflected by the investment flows to Africa that are increasingly originating in emerging markets. China's stock of direct investments in Africa grew by 34% year-on-year in 2012 to $21.7bn and thus amounted to 4% of total Chinese foreign direct investment. South Africa, followed by Zambia and Nigeria, are the main recipients, but the largest inflows in 2012 were to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
China's energy requirements remain huge, even though weaker growth, the changeover to alternative energies and reining in coal consumption should curb demand over the medium term.
China is responsible for some 25% of global demand for commodities, while Africa is home to around 10% of global oil reserves and between 40% and 85% of global deposits of gold, chromium and platinum. China covered over 70% of its iron ore needs in 2012 via imports, with South Africa rising up the ladder to become the country's third biggest supplier. For crude oil, China's reliance on imports climbed from 30% in 2001 to 60% in 2012. Africa is therefore of paramount importance when it comes to meeting China's future commodity requirements. But even though the focus remains on securing the supply of commodities there are strong indications that China's activities in Africa will be more varied in future:
Firstly, Africa is becoming increasingly attractive as a market where products can be sold, and not just labour-intensive imported items. Some 18% of Chinese exports to Africa in 2010 were textiles, whereas in 2006 the figure was still about 25%. Machinery and electronics made up the largest share at 29%. With China's move upstream in the value chain, more advanced technologies are proving a good fit for a more demanding clientele and the fast growing market for mobile phones in Africa.
Second, in the manufacturing sector Chinese firms are making more frequent use of local labour and are relying on their own experience of industrial development driven by companies from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Since wage costs in China are rising, it is likely to become more important in future to exploit the differences in wage costs by generating more added value on African soil.
Third, China’s activities in Africa are no longer performed solely via state-owned entities. On the contrary, 45% of China’s direct investments in 2011 came from the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
Fourth, China can speed up knowledge and technology transfer that benefits both sides via its special economic zones in Africa, though only if (private sector) local decision makers are also involved. The training of local workers will also become essential for China given the growing competition in Africa.
Fifth, the hitherto adopted model, in which Chinese infrastructure projects in Africa – often the critical prerequisite for extracting raw materials – were tied to export guarantees or asset stakes, can no longer be utilised so easily. Until 2008 preferential infrastructure loans were a constant feature of China's foreign policy strategy. However, only a few of the stakes acquired as collateral for infrastructure projects are productive. Despite their substantial financial leeway Chinese state-owned companies will probably have to operate more efficiently in future in order to hold their own against the competition when operating outside their domestic comfort zone.
In all, numerous projects that can decisively advance Africa's industrialisation entail extensive investments and long amortisation periods. China possesses the necessary means to fund such projects. A more complex range of activities will not only provide opportunities for China, but can also generate an increasingly positive contribution to Africa's economic development by establishing better integrated local manufacturing.

DR Congo military attacks last areas held by M23 rebels

Image courtesy of STRINGER/Newscom/RTR

6 hours ago MSN Kenya

Government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they are attacking the last areas held by the M23 rebel group.

The M23 on Sunday reportedly called a ceasefire to allow peace talks with the government.
According to the BBC, the M23 called on the organisers of the peace talks in Uganda to "put in place a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire".
Government spokesperson Lambert Mende said the statement was "a step in the right direction" but that it was waiting to see if the ceasefire was being implemented.
"There is always a delay between the order being given and the reality on the ground. In any case the army will continue to pursue the demobilisation and disarmament of the rebels," said Mende.
About 800 000 people have been displaced since the fighting began.

The ZUCKERBERG PALACE....LIFE IS THE RICHNESS LIKE THIS

The Zuckerberg Palace Mark Zuckerberg purchased a $7 million dollar house in Palo Alto, California for him and his girlfriend, Priscilla Chan. Billionaire Zuckerberg apparently got a deal and paid $7 million for the 5 bedroom property which came with a spa and large salt water pool. 

Zuckerberg co-founded the social networking site, Facebook, with fellow classmates Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin, and Chris Hughes when going to Harvard for college. At such a young age, Zuckerberg is already worth an estimated $7 billion due to his 24% share of Facebook. Zuckerberg is currently CEO & President of Facebook, which has its headquarters nearby Palo Alto.

The house seems very small and cheap for someone who makes billions of dollars. It is interesting to see some billionaires spend less on some of the items they buy. It sorta shows that these people are modest and real human beings. Take a look at photos below!





What do you think of his house? Is it to cheap for someone as rich as him? You can answer in the comments below!

THESE ARE CHINISE POACHERS who CAUGHT with IVORIES

KAGASHEKI WITNESSE THE HAUL OF IVORY IMPOUNDED BY THE POLICE, THREE CHINESE NATIONALS ARE IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION WITH MORE THAN1,800 KG OF TROPHIES

Natural Resources and Tourism minister, Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, in disbelief as he looks at a pile of elephant trophies impounded at a Mikocheni house in Dar es Salaam, Saturday Nov 2, 2013. Three Chinese nationals Huang Qin, Chen Jinzhan and Xu Fujie are in custody in connection with more than 1,800 kg of trophies

Minister Kagasheki, visits inside the residential house used as a were house to hide natural resources at Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam, Saturday Nov 2, 2013

Armed plain police officer, stand guard outside Mikocheni house in Dar es Salaam late on Saturday, where more than 1,800 kgs of ivory were impounded by the police

At a time when poaching has tremendously scaled up in the country, about 706 pieces of ivory, representing more than 200 tuskers killed, were found yesterday in Dar es Salam Mkocheni area at a residence of Chinese nationals.

The incredulous catch was hidden in a manner that needed informed intelligence to uncover as shells of snails mixed with garlic to fool any suspicious minds sniffing about the ivory. Even the minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Khamis Kagasheki, and police officers at the scene were so stunned with the ingenuity of the residents, evidently agents of Far East ivory traders.

A detailed report made available to the Guardian on Sunday in past months says China is deeply implicated in the wave of killing of elephants owing to its million dollar trade in ivory products.  The report authored by the Tanzania Elephant Protection Society (TEPS) said rising economic relations between China and Tanzania fuel elephant killings in the country, calling for proper

government intervention.

The document underlined that though the Chinese investments were important in the country’s economy and development, this shouldn’t compromise the country’s natural wildlife conservation efforts. 

The report affirmed that at the current rate of 30 elephants killed every day and 850 elephants shot every month, there is an unprecedented risk of the country’s elephant population perishing in the next seven years.

“China is the number one investor in Tanzania … but the majority of tusks exported illegally from Tanzania end up in China due to the huge demand for ivory in China,”   it said, noting that Tanzania’s partnership with China risks being at the expense of Tanzania’s vital natural resources and the tourist industry,

This requires political will and strong leadership to resolve, it said, recommending that the Tanzania government “should make investment from China and other countries strictly conditional on China tackling its demand for ivory at home, and stronger law enforcement collaboration to halt the flow of ivory from Tanzania to China.”

Three Chinese, Che Jinzhan, Xu Fujie and Huang Qin, are said to use a special Noah microbus with registration number T713 BXG to transport the ivory pieces to the house.

Until this paper left the house more than 1800 kilogram of ivory pieces were found, although the police were not yet finished with counting.

Inside the house police found a weighing unit that the Chinese used in their illegal business, a number of fresh garlic onions and sacks of shells which were mixed with the ivory during transportation.

Interviewed, the Chinese said that the ivory business is owned by their friends and what they were doing was only the garlic business.

Huang Qin explaining that his friends are the one who used to bring the ivory in their home. He admitted that it is illegal business and if it was in their country they would be executed.

The bus that used to bring the product in the house uses different numbers whereby during a day the used plate number is T713 BXG but at night the number is twisted with plate number T 317 BXG.

According to the information released from the ivory storehouse, the minibus is used to conduct the operation at midnight, specifically from 1:00 am.

Briefing the media at the event, minister Kagasheki said they managed to find the ivory as a follow up to Operation Tokomeza against gangs hunting elephants with automatic rifles, all over the country.

Ambassador Kagasheki said the fight against poachers will not be achieved by suspending public officials but by joining efforts with all stakeholders, including MPs to fight the scourge.

The ivory pieces found yesterday represent a big amount as elephants are steadily diminished, he said, underlining that stopping Operation Tokomeza as MPs are proposing would see elephants cleared out from game parks in a few years.

A bag of cash owned by Chinese nationals. the cash was in possession by the arrested Chinese nationals

More than 30 million shillings owned by the arrested Chinese nationals was intended to bribe the corps, according to police sources at the scene

Kagasheki (L), in disbelief, as he led the operation to arrest three Chinese national found with ivory tusk at Mikocheni

Ambassador Kagasheki (L), talks to his Permanent Secretary, Maimuna Tarishi at the scene

Che Jinzhan (R), and Xu Fujie

Ring leader of the arrested Chinese nationals, Huang Qin,

Minister Kagasheki, tour the crime scene

Ambassador Khamis Swed Kagasheki, in a shocking mood

The three Chinese nationals, arrested with more that 1,800 kgs of ivory tusk, wait their fate

This is a makeshift house used to cover the real house used by the Chinese to hide national' resources at Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam

Armed police officer, guard a pole of ivory tusk packed in the sucks at Mikocheni residential house in Dar es Salaam, Saturday Nov 2, 2013.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Wars

By TheRichest | Google+ in Most Expensive 

Wars have been fought since ancient times. The age-old adage is that wars can never be won, and thus, must never be fought. Sometimes, though, there is a compelling and just reason to wage war, like when Hitler wanted to rule the world. Other times, however, wars are fought merely to help pump up the economy because it would bring about an increased demand for weapons, which in turn, would lead to more employment and humming factories.
There are the human element and the social cost, as well, but these are hard to convert to monetary terms. Wars are certainly expensive, with the amounts spent probably enough to solve the world’s hunger problem several times over. Below is a list of the top ten most expensive wars.
1. World War II  (1941-1945) – $4.1 trillion
 
World War II actually started in 1939 when Nazi Germany launched a blitzkrieg against Poland. It quickly spread across Europe, as Britain and France declared war on Germany and Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Italy. The United States remained neutral for a while, even as it was still recovering from the Great Depression. In 1941, it finally joined the war on the side of the Allies after Japan surprised it with an attack on Pearl Harbor. Americans were heavily involved in both European and Asian theaters, eventually turning the tide in the Allies’ favor. During this time, the nuclear weapon was created and used for the first time.
2. Post 9-11 (2001-2010) – $1.1 trillion
 
The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. on 11 September 2001 led to massive worldwide indignation. The United States quickly responded by going after the group responsible for the attacks, the Al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden. The group and its leadership had been hiding out in Afghanistan where they had accommodating hosts in the Taliban. The hunt for bin Laden finally led to his death in Pakistan in 2011.
Meanwhile, the Americans also waged a war against Iraq for supposedly posing a danger by creating a nuclear weapon. The allegations were refuted not only by Iraq, but also by the United Nations. The Americans pushed on with the war, culminating in the death of Saddam Hussein in 2006.  No evidence was ever found that Iraq even had the capability to build the nuclear bomb.
3. Vietnam War (1965-1975) – $738 billion
 
It was the height of the Cold War, and the Americans were in no mood to give up any country to a communist state. Even if that country was led by unpopular despots who had killed many of his own people, and who had inadvertently been feeding the communist guerillas himself through his tyrannical rule of the people. His unpopularity translated to a similar dislike of the Americans that were waging a war on a people who had done nothing wrong against them. The Americans lost the war, subtly covering it up with a pull out of its forces before it got totally defeated. By that time, American napalm and other weapons had already scarred millions of Vietnamese.
4. Korean War (1950-1953) – $341 billion
 
At the start of the Cold War, Korea served as one of the first battlegrounds. Korea had been divided into a communist North and the capitalist South, with a border at the 38^th parallel. China and the Soviet Union backed the North, while the United States and its allies supported the South. During the height of the war, General Douglas MacArthur seriously considered using the atomic bomb.
5. World War I (1917-1921) – $334 billion
 
World War I actually began in 1914, but the United States only joined in 1917. Before that, Europe was divided into two camps consisting of the Allied Powers of Britain, France, and others, versus the Central Powers of Germany, Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. The U.S. remained neutral because it believed it would not further its interest if they join the war. They continued trading with both sides. The unlimited submarine warfare policy of Germany, however, had sunk ships with American passengers, and this slowly turned the American public against them. In 1917, the Americans finally entered the war on the side of the Allies. The war ended a year after.
6. Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) – $102 billion

Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in 1990, citing historical claims to the latter that was supposed to be part of Iraq had it not been for a British invention. This threatened the Western world’s oil supply, which was further exacerbated when Hussein started threatening Saudi Arabia. The U.S. then launched Operation Desert Shield, aimed at preventing Iraq from invading Saudi Arabia. This later on became Desert Storm, a war meant to free Kuwait that was seen by the rest of the world on CNN.
7. Civil War (1861-1865) – $79.7 billion, 59.6 Union
 
The Civil War pitted the Union states opposed to slavery against the Confederate states that were pro-slavery. It pitted Americans against other Americans in a war that split the nation. While it cost the nation a lot, it was also a fight that needed to be fought, though white extremists would continue lynching African-Americans until well into the 20^th century. The Union spent nearly $60 billion for the war, while the Confederacy used up almost $20 billion in current money.
8. Spanish-American War (1898-1899) – $9 billion
 
Spain then was in control of Cuba, which was just off Florida. Washington demanded that Spain turn over control to the U.S. When Spain rejected the demand, the Spanish-American War erupted. This started American expansionist policy, as they took over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
9. American Revolution (1775-1783) – $2.4 billion
 
It was a conflict between the 13 colonies and the British crown, as Americans demanded equal rights. The disagreement on how they should be treated resulted into a cry of No Taxation Without Representation.  It took eight years, with the war ending with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. By that time, the United States was already an independent country.
10. Mexican War (1846-1849) – $2.37 billion
 
It erupted after the U.S. annexed Texas in 1845. It eventually occupied New Mexico and California, before capturing Mexico City. The war forced Mexico to give Alta California and New Mexico to the Americans for $15 million and the American’s assumption of $3.25 million in debt that Mexico owed to U.S. citizens.

Syria War Cost Industry $2.2 Billion

Syria War Cost Industry $2.2 Billion

Agence France Presse  |  By Posted: 11/03/2013 11:08 am EST  |  Updated: 11/03/2013 2:25 pm EST

The Syrian industrial sector has lost $2.2 billion since the war began 31 months ago, Industry Minister Kamaleddine Tohme said in statements published Sunday.
"The losses in the industrial sector from the start of the Syrian crisis till October total 336 billion Syrian pounds ($2.2 billion)," the pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan quoted Tohme as saying.
The private industrial sector has lost $1.5 billion, while public industry has lost $700 million, he said.
But he insisted that the figures did not reflect losses incurred in parts of the country held by rebel groups fighting to topple the regime.
More than 120,000 people have been killed in Syria's war, and millions more forced to flee their homes.
It has also destroyed the economy, causing soaring inflation and driving down the value of the Syrian pound.
According to the UN, more than half the Syrian population is now living in poverty.

OPPOSITION LAYS PRECONDITIONS FOR PEACE TALKS TO END WAR-SYRIA

Syria crisis: Opposition lays preconditions for peace talks to end civil war

Reuters  Cairo, November 4, 2013 | UPDATED 12:28 IST

The Syrian opposition set terms on Sunday for attending peace talks to end the Syrian civil war, in a move that throws the proposed conference into further confusion after the international envoy said there should be no preconditions.

The long-delayed talks - known as Geneva 2 - are meant to bring Syria's warring sides to the negotiating table, but have been repeatedly delayed because of disputes between world powers, divisions among the opposition and irreconcilable positions of Assad and the rebels.

Syrian National Coalition President Ahmad Jarba said the opposition would not attend unless there was a clear timeframe for President Bashar al-Assad to leave power. He also said they could not accept the presence of Iran.

"We have decided not to enter Geneva talks unless it is with dignity, and unless there is a successful transfer of power with a specific timeframe, and without the occupier Iran at the negotiating table," Jarba told an Arab League emergency meeting of foreign minister in Cairo.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the international envoy for Syria, has said he hoped the conference could still be held in the next few weeks despite obstacles.

Though he had in the past said he thought Assad would not be part of a transitional government that Geneva 2 would attempt to install, he said on Friday that his opinions had no bearing on the parameters for the conference.

There is also discord among world powers over whether Iran should be invited to the talks. Tehran has said it is ready to come and Brahimi says the U.N. preferred that Iran attend but there had been no agreement on that yet.

A senior State Department official, speaking ahead of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Cairo and Riyadh, said the top U.S. diplomat would make clear to the Saudis that Iran would not be welcome to attend the Syria peace talks unless it endorsed a past agreement that would see Assad give up power.

"Iran has not done that, and without that even we couldn't consider the possibility of their participating," the official added, stressing: "It is a question of just making sure they understand the details of how firm our position is."

CALL FOR WEAPONS

In Cairo, an Arab League draft communiqué called on the Syrian opposition to attend the conference.

"It (Arab League) decided to call on all sides of the Syrian opposition under the leadership of the Syrian National Coalition ... to accelerate the formation of the negotiating delegation".

In Cairo, Jarba urged world powers to supply Syrians fighting Assad with weapons in the conflict that has so far claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people.

"We demand a clear decision on supplying the Syrian people with weapons to fight the hostility which gets worse hour by hour ... We guarantee that these weapons will not fall into the wrong hands."

The growing influence of radical Islamist fighters and the disarray of rebel forces have made Western powers wary of intervening directly in the civil war by supplying weapons or troops.

While some rebel tensions stem from contrasting ideological outlooks, most infighting centers around rival claims over the control of territory, smuggling and other spoils of war.

Arab and Western officials have said that international powers were unlikely to meet their goal of holding the conference in November.

Even if Jarba were to attend the Geneva 2 meetings, he has no authority over the rebel brigades battling to overthrow Assad.

The main rebel brigades have announced their opposition to the conference if it does not result in Assad's removal.

GIANT JESUS STATUE ARISES in SYRIAN WAR

In midst of Syrian war, giant Jesus statue arises

Associated Press

9:07 pm | Saturday, November 2nd, 2013

This Oct. 14, 2013 photo provided by the St. Paul’s and St. George’s Foundation shows workers preparing to install a statue of Jesus on Mount Sednaya, Syria. In the midst of a civil war rife with sectarianism, a 12.3-meter (40-foot) tall, bronze statue of Jesus has gone up on a Syrian mountain, apparently under cover of a truce among three factions – Syrian forces, rebels and gunmen in the Christian town of Sednaya. AP/Samir El-Gadban, St. Paul’s and St. George’s Foundation

BEIRUT — In the midst of a conflict rife with sectarianism, a giant bronze statue of Jesus has gone up on a Syrian mountain, apparently under cover of a truce among three factions in the country’s civil war.
Jesus stands, arms outstretched, on the Cherubim mountain, overlooking a route pilgrims took from Constantinople to Jerusalem in ancient times. The statue is 12.3 meters (40 feet) tall and stands on a base that brings its height to 32 meters (105 feet), organizers of the project estimate.
That the statue made it to Syria and went up without incident on Oct. 14 is remarkable. The project took eight years and was set back by the civil war that followed the March 2011 uprising against President Bashar Assad.
Christians and other minorities are all targets in the conflict, and the statue’s safety is by no means guaranteed. It stands among villages where some fighters, linked to al-Qaida, have little sympathy for Christians.
So why put up a giant statue of Christ in the midst of such setbacks and so much danger?
Because “Jesus would have done it,” organizer Samir al-Ghadban quoted a Christian church leader as telling him.
The backers’ success in overcoming the obstacles shows the complexity of civil war, where sometimes despite the atrocities the warring parties can reach short-term truces.
Al-Ghadban said that the main armed groups in the area — Syrian government forces, rebels and the local militias of Sednaya, the Christian town near the statue site — halted fire while organizers set up the statue, without providing further details.
Rebels and government forces occasionally agree to cease-fires to allow the movement of goods. They typically do not admit to having truces because that would tacitly acknowledge their enemies.
It took three days to raise the statue. Photos provided by organizers show it being hauled in two pieces by farm tractors, then lifted into place by a crane. Smaller statues of Adam and Eve stand nearby.
The project, called “I Have Come to Save the World,” is run by the London-based St. Paul and St. George Foundation, which Al-Ghadban directs. It was previously named the Gavrilov Foundation, after a Russian businessman, Yuri Gavrilov.
Documents filed with Britain’s Charity Commission describe it as supporting “deserving projects in the field of science and animal welfare” in England and Russia, but the commission’s accounts show it spent less than 250 pounds ($400) in the last four years.
Al-Ghadban said most of the financing came from private donors, but did not supply further details.
Russians have been a driving force behind the project — not surprising given that the Kremlin is embattled Assad’s chief ally, and the Orthodox churches in Russia and Syria have close ties. Al-Ghadban, who spoke to The Associated Press from Moscow, is Syrian-Russian and lives in both countries.
Al-Ghadban said he began the project in 2005, hoping the statue would be an inspiration for Syria’s Christians. He said he was inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s towering Christ the Redeemer statue.
He commissioned an Armenian sculptor, but progress was slow.
By 2012, the statue was ready, but Syria was aflame, causing the project’s biggest delay, al-Ghadban said.
Majority Sunni Muslims dominate the revolt, and jihadists make up some of the strongest fighting groups. Other Muslim groups along with the 10-percent Christian minority have stood largely with Assad’s government, or remained neutral, sometimes arming themselves to keep hard-line rebels out of their communities.
Churches have been vandalized, priests abducted. Last month the extremists overran Maaloula, a Christian-majority town so old that some of its people still speak a language from Jesus’ time.
On Tuesday a militant Muslim cleric, Sheik Omar al-Gharba, posted a YouTube video of himself smashing a blue-and-white statue of the Virgin Mary.
Al-Ghadban and the project’s most important backer, Gavrilov, weighed canceling it.
They consulted Syria’s Greek Orthodox Patriarch John Yaziji. It was he who told them “Jesus would have done it.”
They began shipping the statue from Armenia to Lebanon. In August, while it was en route, Gavrilov, 49, suffered a fatal heart attack, al-Ghadban said.
Eventually the statue reached Syria.
“It was a miracle,” al-Ghadban said. “Nobody who participated in this expected this to succeed.”