Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta visited the Transnet Manufacturing Facility in Pretoria on Wednesday, where he went on a tour of the factory with South African Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan.

The visit is part of Kenyatta's two-day state visit to South Africa to bolster trade relations between the two countries after ministers from both countries signed cooperation agreement in various sectors, including transport, health and tourism.

"Today is another demonstration of President Kenyatta's determination to see how we could take the relationship between the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of South Africa to a completely new level and built around commercial relations, trade relations," said Gordhan during opening remarks at the plant.

The guided tour of the Transnet facility aimed to show the company's capabilities in advanced design and manufacturing, and maintenance of rail-related equipment.

"I think Transnet can be a leading partner in working together with other African countries to restore their real stock. And again, going back to what I said earlier, be a leader in helping the integration of our rail systems across the continent and this is something that we look forward to working together with you and my team as we move forward," said Kenyatta.

Kenyatta is expected to visit the Aspen Pharmacare factory in the Eastern Cape, where the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is manufactured for distribution in South Africa and the other African countries. - Africanews

(Bloomberg) -- Uganda is in talks with neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo on plans to defeat Islamic rebels after four terrorist attacks in the past month.

Uganda’s security forces have gathered information about the Allied Democratic Forces after killing 12 of its operatives and arresting 106 since June, when they attempted to assassinate a minister, President Yoweri Museveni he said in a televised address in the capital, Kampala.

The East African nation, seeking to be one of Africa’s newest oil producers, wants to create stability in the wake of attacks from the group that included two twin bombings in Kampala on Tuesday that killed seven people. 

The rebel group is thriving on smuggling, plundering Congo’s timber and gold to finance its operations, the Uganda leader said. Uganda is also seeking to capture members of the group hiding in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa, he added.

Uganda has the capacity to defeat the Islamists within the country, as well as with the help of its neighbors, Museveni said.

The group fought Uganda in the western region bordering Congo in the late 1990s before pulling back and crossing into the neighboring country. Its leader said last year that the group is part of Islamic State’s self-proclaimed Central African Province. - Fred Ojambo, Bloomberg News

London New Year fireworks display will be replaced by a “broadcast spectacular” and Trafalgar Square event after the show was scrapped due to Covid uncertainty.

The event, set to be shown live exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, will celebrate the capital and highlight the defining moments of 2021.

The programme will include a special live choir, and look ahead to the best of 2022 – including London hosting the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 amongst other highlights.

For the first time ever, Trafalgar Square will be the setting for a ticketed celebration event, including live music, stage performers, food stalls and a large screen showing the live broadcast.

Tickets to the event on New Year’s Eve, which is subject to licensing application approval, will be awarded to applicants through a lottery, or ballot, system.

The uncertainty caused by the pandemic, particularly around mass gatherings, has meant that London’s usual fireworks event was cancelled.

However, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is encouraging people to make the most of the city’s bars, clubs, restaurants, and other attractions to ring in the New Year.

The capital’s bridges, buildings and trees will be illuminated along the South Bank – as part of the mayor’s Let’s Do London Winter Lights’ Season – and the city’s famous Christmas lights, ice rinks and festive markets will also be open.

Mr Khan said: “This year, as well as a brand-new celebration event in Trafalgar Square, we can look forward to a live broadcast spectacular which will showcase our magnificent city on BBC One.

“London is simply magical during these winter months and after all we have endured as a city we have every reason to celebrate as we look ahead to the new year.” ES