– Botswana’s diamond production has risen 14% this year, helping the economy recover from a two-year slump, as the government raised its 2026 growth forecast to 3.8%. The Ministry of Finance had initially forecast growth of 3.1%. Output reached 15.1

– Strong non-oil and gas exports helped Indonesia post a trade surplus of $10.61 billion in the first nine months of 2026, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday. The non-oil and gas sector produced a $34.21 billion surplus between January

– South Africa’s FirstRand, the second-largest lender in Africa, has joined a growing list of continental banks seeking to buy into Kenya’s banking industry. Half of Africa’s top 20 banks are building a multi-billion-shilling war chest for the market. They

– South Korea’s monthly exports reached a record $115.3 billion in October, up 93.7% from a year earlier, as semiconductor sales surged. Data released on Sunday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources showed chip exports alone soaring 259%

– Kenya aims to raise its annual coffee output to 150,000 metric tonnes, with new climate-resilient varieties expected to play a central role. Production is projected at about 60,000 metric tonnes in the 2025/2026 season, well short of that target.

– Germany’s new electric vehicle registrations surged 58% to 604,000 in the first nine months of 2026, helping lift global battery-electric vehicle registrations to a record 11 million, according to PwC. Worldwide registrations rose 12% over the period, driven mainly

– Brent crude rose above $115 a barrel on Wednesday as traders reacted to reports of possible renewed US strikes on Iran. Brent futures climbed $1.48, or 1.3%, to $115.36 by 01:40 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose

– Microsoft is offering a voluntary exit package to about 27% of its workforce as it seeks to fund a costly AI infrastructure expansion while protecting capital efficiency. The offer, announced on Monday, applies to certain employees in the United