Business & Tech News
Coca-Cola Products Recalled – After High Chlorate Levels Discovered
Coca-Cola has recalled several Coca-Cola products citing elevated levels of the chemical chlorate in the product having been discovered. The ban has affected several regions across Europe, including the UK, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Containers of Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero, distributed widely across these regions are being withdrawn as well as 6x250ml Appletiser multipacks sent to UK supermarkets.The announcement in the UK yesterday (29 Jan), followed an earlier recall of these products across Europe on Monday.
While the Coca-Cola Europacific’s bottling partner, said the risk of illness was “very low”, in high dosages, Chlorate can cause a number of health issues, including kidney failure, methemoglobinemia, and heart damage. The higher levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, Belgium, according to an unnamed company spokesperson quoted by the AFP news agency.
The Start of the AI War?
Global AI leading company, OpenAI, has issued a statement complaining that rivals, including those developed in China, are using its work to leapfrog their own AI developments and make rapid advances in their artificial intelligence (AI) tools. OpenAI’s position as a world leader in AI, was shaken this week with the arrival of the Chinese developed, DeepSeek Ai model. This has shaken the AI echelons with their claims that they have developed Gen AI models that utilise far less computing power with better results and so at a far lower cost. Microsoft is reportedly investigating whether data belonging to OpenAI – in which it is a major investor in – has been used in an unauthorised way.
The irony of the situation was not lost on commentators, as many content creators and others holding intellectual property and copy rights, have seen their own work be used by Open AI to train their various LLM AI models. This has resulted in numerous court cases that are still ongoing.In an interview on Fox News, David Sacks related that “I think one of the things you’re going to see over the next few months is our leading AI companies taking steps to try and prevent distillation… That would definitely slow down some of these copycat models.” “There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models,” White House “AI and crypto czar”, David Sacks commented.
Nissan Begins Cost Cutting Global Action
Japan’s Nissan Motor Corporation has offered workers buyouts in a process of staff cuts that it had announced it would be taking last month. The buyout deal was given to workers at three U.S. factories, a company spokesperson announced today (30 Jan).Nissan is looking to cut over $2.5 billion in costs globally, as it struggles with low sales forecasts. Nissan will offer the separation packages to workers at its vehicle assembly plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi, and an engine plant in Decherd, Tennessee, according to the released statement.
They will also cut one of two shifts at the production line for its Rogue sports utility vehicle in Smyrna starting in April, and for the Altima sedan in Canton from September. Nissan’s spokesperson declined to say how many U.S. workers it hopes will take the voluntary buyout offer. The company could potentially cut up to around 1,500 jobs and job cuts in other regions have not yet been announced.
Market News
Currencies:
The US Dollar is currently trading slightly lower at 1.04209 against the Euro, at 1.24467 against the Pound, and at 154.62 Yen to the dollar currently. The rand has strengthened again and is currently trading at R18.54 to the dollar.
Commodities:
- Gold prices have levelled at the R2760 mark this morning, with the price currently at $2,761.52 per ounce. Copper is trading lower today and currently at 4.2534, while Silver is trading slightly higher this morning at 30.881
- Platinum prices have continued in a roller-coaster trend and are up this morning and is currently trading at $979.50, while Palladium prices have also gained some upward momentum and currently at $975
- Oil prices continue lower in trade this morning, with Brent oil currently trading at $76.50 currently with WTI also trading downwards at $72.62 currently.
- Cocoa futures have seen a slight upwards move, this morning with prices currently at $11 684 per ton.
- Coffee prices are trading upwards, and at $364.63 currently.
Crypto Currencies:
- Bitcoin has gained fresh momentum above the $100 000 mark, and is currently trading at $105093.
- Ether prices are currently trading upwards this morning, and at $3193.10 currently.
- $Trumpcoin lost its momentum overnight and is currently trading lower by around 3% from yesterday at $27.49
(All prices quoted at approximately 06H40 – Central African Time)
Other News in Africa Today
Kenyan / Egyptian Bilateral Agreements Signed
Multiple bilateral cooperative agreements, have been signed between Kenya and Egypt yesterday. The agreements will seek to broaden technology sharing, boost inter-country trade, improve education and encourage further investments in both regions. Kenyan President, William Ruto, was in Cairo on an official visit with his counter-part President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, where they have both signed twelve cooperative deals.
A further topic discussed during the meeting of the two leaders was the situation in Gaza. El-Sisi has rejected a proposal from Donald Trump that Palestinians from Gaza should be moved to Egypt and Jordan. “Regarding what is being said about the displacement of the Palestinian people, I would like to reassure the Egyptian people that harm to Egypt’s national security could never be tolerated or allowed. And I would like to reassure you that we intend to work with President Trump who wants to achieve peace and to reach the desired peace that is based on the two-state solution. And we believe that President Trump is capable of reaching this long awaited goal, bringing just and sustainable peace in the Middle East region,” Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, said.
Kenya Farmers Fight Seed Sharing Ban
In a move to support further Agricultural development in Kenya, more than a dozen farmers have filed a legal case to challenge the 2012 law barring seed sharing between farmers. The law stipulates that seed sharing in Kenya is illegal and that contravention is punishable by two years in prison or a fine. However local farmers have stated that this affects poor farmers who cannot afford to buy expensive fertilisers to plant hybrid varieties. Local indigenous species and traditional varieties of corn and other crop types, have now been recognised by the National Seed Bank to be more resilient to climate change and are outperforming modern genetically modified versions. Some of these had been abandoned by the seed bank. Farmers have said that the traditional species have adopted to local conditions and are more resilient and do not require additional chemicals and fertilisers to deliver crop volumes.