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Indonesia suspended flights at airports serving Jakarta and Lampung on Sunday after ash from the erupting Mount Anak Krakatau spread across western Java and southern Sumatra, disrupting hundreds of services and prompting aviation authorities to impose temporary closures.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country’s busiest gateway, halted operations after volcanic ash was detected around the airport. The suspension, initially imposed during the early hours, was extended as officials monitored changing ash concentrations and wind patterns.

Radin Inten II International Airport in Lampung also stopped flights, while Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta and Budiarto Airport at Curug were among other facilities temporarily closed as a safety precaution. Indonesia’s disaster management agency said four airports had been shut at different times by early Sunday, with further operational decisions dependent on ash conditions.

The disruption widened as the day progressed. Airport authorities said 301 flights, including 58 international services, were affected by closures and related restrictions. Airlines cancelled, delayed or rescheduled services linking Jakarta with destinations including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Doha, Sydney, Seoul and Amsterdam.

Civil Aviation Director General Lukman F Laisa said the disruption at Soekarno-Hatta alone affected 209 flights and 22,798 passengers. Sixteen international flights were cancelled, seven delayed and five rescheduled, while four domestic services were cancelled and one diverted.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG, said satellite analysis on Sunday morning showed two broad clusters of volcanic ash extending across Banten, Jakarta, West Java and towards Bengkulu. The agency intensified round-the-clock monitoring of the eruption’s effects on the atmosphere, aviation and waters around the Sunda Strait.

BMKG said ash at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet was moving generally eastwards and affecting parts of Jakarta, Banten and West Java, while another plume reaching as high as 50,000 feet was spreading westwards over Banten, Lampung, Bengkulu, the southern Sunda Strait and the Indian Ocean.

The agency said it had issued 50 Significant Meteorological Information, or SIGMET, warnings since the eruption began late on Friday. Such advisories alert aircraft operators to hazardous atmospheric conditions that can affect flight safety.

Volcanic ash poses a serious risk to aircraft because fine particles can damage engines, impair visibility and affect navigation and other systems. Authorities said airport operations would resume only when assessments showed conditions were safe.

Anak Krakatau’s activity had continued from about 11.07 pm on Friday, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. Monitoring recorded sustained eruptive activity accompanied by rumbling, booming sounds and lava fountains. Officials maintained close observation as ashfall reached populated areas around the Sunda Strait.

The eruption also disrupted daily life beyond aviation. Authorities distributed masks in affected communities and urged residents exposed to ash to reduce outdoor activity and use protective coverings. Schools in some areas suspended activities, while fishing was restricted around waters considered vulnerable to volcanic hazards.

No casualties were reported from the eruption, and authorities had not ordered a broad evacuation. Disaster officials continued to warn people and vessels to observe exclusion zones around the volcano and follow instructions from monitoring agencies.

Authorities also began weather-modification operations aimed at encouraging rainfall to help clear ash from affected areas, while aviation and disaster agencies coordinated forecasts, airspace warnings and airport inspections. Officials stressed that closure periods could be shortened or extended as conditions changed. The transport ministry said safety assessments would take priority over efforts to restore schedules, with airlines expected to reposition aircraft and crews once airports reopened. The spreading ash also created knock-on disruption at airports outside the closure zone as carriers adjusted rotations and connections across Indonesia’s domestic and international network.

Ferry services across the Sunda Strait continued operating with precautions, preserving the main sea connection between Java and Sumatra despite the aviation disruption. Port authorities were advised to remain alert to changing volcanic conditions and ash movement.

Rescuers in Nepal pulled a Chinese worker and a Nepali woman alive from separate sites on Saturday, 10 days after catastrophic floods swept through Himalayan valleys and left thousands of people missing. The Chinese national, identified as Lu Haitao, was brought out from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district by a joint rescue team involving Nepal’s army and South Korean disaster specialists. […]

Used-car marketplace CARS24 has complained to cybercrime police that confidential information linked to about 3,100 customers was unlawfully taken and passed to a competing business and outside vehicle dealers, with individual sales leads allegedly offered for roughly ₹1,000 each. The company has estimated the resulting commercial loss at about ₹5.70 crore, according to details of the complaint. The figure is CARS24’s assessment of business damage and should […]

A Russian state-linked cyber-espionage group has deployed a newly documented Windows backdoor, HOOKEDGE, against government, diplomatic and defence-related organisations in Romania, Spain and Türkiye, according to threat intelligence published in late August. Researchers at Recorded Future’s Insikt Group said the activity ran from late September 2025 to early April 2026 and was attributed with moderate confidence to BlueDelta, a cluster that overlaps with APT28, Fancy Bear and […]

By Dr. Gyan Pathak The talks between the representative of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) held on September 4 has failed. On the one hand, UFBU has said that they are not in a position to defer their multiple strike schedule in banks, beginning from September 11, […]

The article No breakthrough in resolving bank strikes due from Sept 11 appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

The Gulf’s events and hospitality sectors are expanding at a pace few regions can match, and much of that growth is being carried on the backs of a workforce that barely existed in its current form a decade ago: flexible, on-demand talent. From five-star product launches in Dubai to sprawling exhibitions in Riyadh, the ability to scale a team up or down within days has become just […]

Two Thai businessmen have sued stablecoin issuer Tether in a New York court, alleging it froze $42.4 million in USDT months before US authorities obtained a seizure warrant. Nutthawat Rukthammachalern and Natthawat Kasamvilas filed the complaint in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 31, challenging Tether’s decision to blacklist 10 Ethereum addresses containing 42,417,785.62 USDT. The plaintiffs allege Tether acted […]

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has laid the foundation stone for Bajaj Finserv’s planned technology-led corporate campus in Pune, a 7.2-million-square-foot development the company says will become the country’s largest single-location financial services office.

The campus at Koregaon Park Annexe is being designed around artificial intelligence and Internet of Things systems that will monitor environmental conditions, occupancy and infrastructure and adjust building operations in real time. Bajaj Finserv describes the project as its first “sentient” corporate campus.

Fadnavis unveiled a commemorative plaque at the September 4 ceremony, which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Bajaj Finserv Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Bajaj and other officials.

The company said the project would consolidate its diversified financial services businesses at a common address for the first time, bringing together operations spanning lending, deposits, payments, insurance and investments. The complex is also planned to include what Bajaj Finserv says will be Pune’s tallest steel tower.

Fadnavis said Bajaj Finserv had built a significant position in the state’s fintech ecosystem by using technology to widen access to loans, insurance and other financial services. He said the new campus would strengthen Pune’s role as a financial-technology centre and described the project as a major addition to Maharashtra’s business infrastructure.

The development is intended to use AI and IoT systems across energy management, water consumption, air quality, crowd density, movement and safety. Sensors and analytics are expected to help the campus respond to changes in weather and occupancy, while predictive maintenance systems will monitor critical infrastructure. Automation and robotics are also planned for some campus operations.

Bajaj Finserv said sustainability, environmental design and employee wellbeing would be the three main design pillars. The buildings are being planned to global LEED and Indian Green Building Council standards, with renewable energy intended to power the campus.

The company has set a target of recycling 80 per cent of water used at the site, alongside rainwater harvesting and zero-waste measures. Those features form part of Bajaj Finserv’s stated goal of achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by the 2031-32 financial year.

Sanjiv Bajaj said the project was intended to combine environmental responsibility with the group’s financial inclusion goals. He said the campus would use eco-efficient and biophilic design, AI-driven systems and renewable energy while placing employee health and wellbeing at the centre of the workplace plan.

Green zones are expected to include Ayurvedic gardens, Miyawaki forests and replanted native forests, with species from Maharashtra selected to support biodiversity. The design will seek to increase natural daylight and ventilation and reduce cooling requirements, according to the company.

Indoor environmental monitoring is planned at floor and cluster level, covering air quality and temperature. Employees are also expected to use an integrated Bajaj One application for services such as navigation, parking and facility bookings.

The project includes plans for a medical centre with telemedicine and emergency-response facilities as well as dedicated wellness support. Bajaj Finserv said these services would be integrated with the wider digital infrastructure of the campus.

The company also plans to incorporate art, craft and heritage traditions from across the country into the development, including lesser-known and lost art forms. Elements of Bajaj Finserv’s corporate social responsibility programmes and work produced by programme beneficiaries are expected to feature within the campus design.

Fadnavis used the ceremony to highlight the Bajaj group’s long association with Maharashtra and its role in the state’s industrial development. He also referred to the legacy of Jamnalal Bajaj, the industrialist and freedom movement figure associated with the group’s early history.

Bajaj Finserv already has several corporate and group offices in Pune. The new site is intended to serve as the company’s principal corporate office and create a single large workplace for businesses that are now spread across different locations.

At least 10 people were killed and more than 60 injured after an explosion tore through a military barracks in Viacha, west of Bolivia’s capital La Paz, on Friday, authorities said. The blast occurred at about 2.30pm local time at the Centro General de Mantenimiento of the RAM-2 “Bolívar” artillery unit, where pyrotechnic material belonging to the Defence Ministry was stored. Officials said the precise cause had […]

As part of his official visit to Vietnam, on the afternoon of September 4, 2026, His Excellency Min Aung Hlaing, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and the high-level Myanmar delegation visited the VinFast Hai Phong Manufacturing Complex, where they learned firsthand about the remarkable and rapid development journey of the Vietnamese automotive brand.

HAI PHONG, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 September 2026 – Mr. Pham Nhat Quan Anh, Chairman of VinFast, personally welcomed His Excellency President Min Aung Hlaing and led the delegation throughout their visit to the VinFast Hai Phong Manufacturing Complex. Mr. Quan Anh accompanied the President and the delegation through the Body Shop and General Assembly Shop, introducing VinFast’s integrated manufacturing processes, advanced production lines featuring a high level of automation, and its internationally competitive portfolio of electric vehicles.

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing was impressed by the scale of the factory and VinFast's diverse lineup of electric cars and electric motorcycles.
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing was impressed by the scale of the factory and VinFast’s diverse lineup of electric cars and electric motorcycles.

At the General Assembly Shop, where VinFast vehicles are completed, President Min Aung Hlaing expressed his strong impression of the quality and high standards of VinFast’s Vietnamese-made electric vehicles. The President also praised the modern infrastructure and advanced facilities of the manufacturing complex, as well as VinFast’s remarkable journey in establishing itself as the No. 1 automotive brand in Vietnam and rapidly expanding its presence internationally.

As of September 2026, VinFast has maintained the No. 1 position in Vietnam’s automotive market for 24 consecutive months, while expanding its presence to more than 10 countries worldwide, including key markets such as Indonesia, India, the Philippines and North America.

The visit by President Min Aung Hlaing takes place against the backdrop of Vietnam and Myanmar strengthening cooperation across multiple areas, contributing to greater connectivity and exchanges, while opening up new opportunities for cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.

The visit also provided an opportunity for VinFast to showcase to Myanmar’s leadership the latest achievements of Vietnam’s automotive industry, as well as the manufacturing capabilities and technological expertise of a Vietnamese enterprise. It further contributed to strengthening connectivity between Vietnam and Myanmar in the areas of industry, trade and green mobility.

As one of Vietnam’s modern automotive manufacturing complexes, the VinFast Hai Phong Manufacturing Complex represents an important milestone in the journey of a Vietnamese automotive brand onto the global stage. Built on its manufacturing foundation in Vietnam, VinFast is expanding its operations across international markets, with a strategic focus on developing a green mobility ecosystem and accelerating the transition toward electric transportation.

The VinFast Hai Phong Manufacturing Complex has previously welcomed numerous senior leaders and heads of state during their official visits to Vietnam. Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo, former President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and former Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel are among the international leaders who, while in office, visited the facility, toured VinFast’s electric vehicle production lines and learned firsthand about VinFast’s electric vehicle offerings.

The visits by heads of state and senior leaders to the VinFast Manufacturing Complex not only reflect international interest in the manufacturing capabilities and technological potential of a Vietnamese enterprise but also create opportunities to strengthen economic connectivity and advance cooperation in industry and green mobility between Vietnam and countries across the region.

With its vision of “For a Green Future,” VinFast continues to accelerate investment in manufacturing capabilities, technology and its electric vehicle ecosystem, with the ambition of bringing Vietnamese green mobility products and solutions to an increasing number of customers around the world.

Hashtag: #VinFast

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Cloudflare has added support for running Cursor Cloud Agents on its Sandboxes platform, giving developers and enterprise teams another way to execute AI coding tasks inside infrastructure they control. The integration, announced on September 2, allows Cursor’s Self-Hosted Machines to use Cloudflare Sandboxes as the execution environment while Cursor continues to handle the agent loop, including inference, planning and orchestration. Commands, file edits, repository operations and other […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dell Technologies and Armada have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop containerised mobile and edge data centre solutions across Saudi Arabia, targeting organisations that need computing and storage capacity close to operations. The agreement, announced on Friday after being signed during LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, sets a framework for combining Dell’s enterprise hardware and infrastructure stack with Armada’s specialised mobile, containerised data […]

LSAF Global, in partnership with ISCA and the Professional Services (PS) Centre Alliance, brings the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2026 – A business expanding into another country may need an accountant, lawyer, tax adviser, talent specialist and local business partner before it can make its first move.

The challenge is often not finding advisers. It is knowing where to start.

LSAF Global, in partnership with the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Professional Services (PS) Centre Alliance, is bringing the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia, connecting them with professional expertise, trusted networks and opportunities across Singapore, Indonesia and the region.

The PS Centre is a collaborative network that aims to make that easier by giving businesses a trusted starting point to find professional expertise, local market knowledge and business connections when expanding across the region.

Businesses in Indonesia can tap on the wider PS Centre network, which currently spans Hongqiao in Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Nanjing and Singapore.

The network is set to grow further, with Johor, Shenzhen and Bangkok among the next locations being developed.

Together, the PS Centres and wider ecosystem are intended to create trusted business corridors across the region so that companies entering a new market do not have to start from zero.

Cross-border business is getting harder

The collaboration in Indonesia comes at a time when companies are looking overseas for growth while facing a more complicated business environment.

Tariffs and geopolitical tensions are changing where companies manufacture and source their products. Supply chains are being redesigned. AI and cyber risks are creating new business questions. Sustainability requirements are changing how companies operate and report.

Increasingly, these problems do not sit neatly within one profession.

A company may start with a tariff question only to discover that it also needs tax, legal and supply chain advice. Another may see an opportunity in Indonesia but need help finding local partners and understanding how best to enter the market.

The PS Centre ecosystem brings different forms of expertise and business networks together so companies do not have to navigate these issues alone.

The collaboration comes amid strong economic links between Singapore and Indonesia.

From Singapore to Indonesia and from Indonesia to the region

The PS Centre ecosystem is designed to work across markets.

Singapore businesses entering Indonesia can connect with local professional advisers, business networks and partners on the ground through LSAF Global and the wider PS Centre ecosystem.

Indonesian businesses looking towards Singapore can tap the Singapore PS Centre and Singapore’s professional services ecosystem.

A business looking beyond Indonesia and Singapore can tap the wider network for support in Vietnam and China. As new centres open, the network will extend into more markets.

Across its existing locations, the PS Centre network has already facilitated more than 90 business connections, supported 100 companies and engaged over 700 businesses and professionals.

The ambition goes beyond opening centres in different cities.

It is to build a connected ecosystem and trusted business corridors that connect opportunities in one market with trusted expertise and networks in another.

Helping businesses solve cross-border challenges

A key initiative being expanded across the PS Centre network is the Business Growth Clinic.

Its premise is simple.

Businesses do not always know which professional they need. They simply know they have a problem to solve.

A manufacturer may produce different parts of the same product across several countries and need help understanding how changing tariffs affect its business.

A professional services firm may want to access talent in another market but is unsure how to structure its operations.

Another business may be looking for an overseas partner, considering an acquisition or trying to understand how geopolitical changes could affect where it invests next.

Instead of figuring out which adviser to approach first, businesses can bring their problem to the Business Growth Clinic.

Depending on the issue, accountants, lawyers, tax specialists, valuers, consultants and other professionals can come together to understand the problem and connect the business with the expertise it needs.

Businesses in Indonesia will also be able to tap the Business Growth Clinic through the PS Centre ecosystem. A Singapore company facing a business issue in Vietnam can tap expertise through the Ho Chi Minh City PS Centre. An Indonesian business looking to establish operations in Singapore can connect with professionals through the Singapore PS Centre. A business exploring China can access support through Hongqiao.

As the PS Centre network expands, the reach of the Business Growth Clinic will expand with it.

Mr Lee Boon Teck, President of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), said: “Businesses do not always know which professional they need. They simply know they have a problem to solve. The strength of the PS Centre lies in the network we are building together: connecting businesses with professional expertise, trusted networks and opportunities across markets. The PS Centre Alliance can help businesses in Singapore and Indonesia make the connections they need to grow across the region.”

Connecting businesses with professional expertise

The initiative is led by the PS Centre Alliance, comprising the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Institute of Valuers & Appraisers Singapore, Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Tax Academy of Singapore, The Law Society of Singapore and ISCA.

The Alliance brings together organisations representing both sides of the equation: businesses looking for opportunities and professional services firms with the expertise to help them pursue those opportunities.

In Indonesia, this gathering of the PS Centre Alliance partners to build relationships with local business and professional organisations, including the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO), Singapore Chamber of Commerce Indonesia, The Indonesia Capital Market Institute (TICMI) and Kongres Advokat Indonesia (KAI).

These relationships will help connect businesses with people who understand the local market while linking them to the wider PS Centre network.

Building sustainability capabilities in Indonesia

ISCA and Universitas Sahid (USAHID) will enter a three-year collaboration to strengthen sustainability capabilities in Indonesia.

The collaboration will facilitate access to the ISCA Sustainability Professional Certification for eligible USAHID students, faculty members, alumni and other participants. It will also support learning and knowledge sharing in sustainability reporting and related areas.

The collaboration aims to connect academic learning with professional practice and build a stronger pool of professionals who can support businesses as sustainability requirements evolve.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Giyatmi, M.Si., Rector of Universitas Sahid, said: “Bringing the Professional Services Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia represents an important step in strengthening collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore’s professional and business communities. We believe the ecosystem can serve as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, and stronger connections between academia and industry. Universitas Sahid is pleased to support this initiative and looks forward to contributing to the development of future-ready professionals who can support sustainable and regional economic growth.”

The collaboration in Indonesia marks another step in building a regional network where businesses, professional services firms and local partners can connect across markets.

As businesses increasingly look beyond their home markets for growth, the aim is simple: when a business sees an opportunity across borders, it should not have to start from zero.

For additional quotes from PS Centre Alliance partners, please refer to the attached Annex.

ANNEX

Ms Hamidah Aidillah, Vice President, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, said: “For Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) looking to grow overseas, finding the right connections and trusted support in a new market can be challenging. Through the PS Centre Alliance’s collaboration in Indonesia, businesses can gain access to professional expertise and local networks, helping Singapore SMEs better navigate the Indonesian market and pursue opportunities for growth across the region. This move is also in line with ASME’s internatiolisation efforts across ASEAN. ”

Mr Lie Kok Keong, Council Chairperson, Institute of Valuers and Appraisers Singapore, said: “Bringing the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia creates meaningful new opportunities for Chartered Valuers and Appraiser (CVA) holders to connect with a wider network of professionals in Indonesia through fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building. We encourage CVA holders to leverage on the wider network to build ties with their Indonesian counterparts to grow and create opportunities together.”

Mr Mark Lee, Chairman of Singapore Business Federation, said: “Businesses today need to remain agile and diversify their markets to build long-term resilience. Indonesia’s long term growth prospects and close ties with Singapore offer significant opportunities for our companies. By bringing PS Centre Jakarta and SEC@Jakarta together, we can make it easier for businesses to access our collective networks, advisory expertise and facilitation support, and help them turn these opportunities into meaningful partnerships and growth.”

Mr Ernie Koh, Council Member, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), said: “Indonesia is an important market for many Singapore businesses seeking to expand their regional presence. Through the PS Centre Alliance’s collaboration in Indonesia, enterprises can access trusted professional support and local networks, helping them better navigate the market and build the connections needed for cross-border growth.”

Mr Wayne Yap, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, said: “Professional services firms are important partners in helping manufacturers understand new markets, manage business requirements and expand with confidence. Through the PS Centre ecosystem, businesses will bring together professional expertise, industry networks and local market connections to support manufacturers and other businesses pursuing opportunities in Indonesia and across the region.”

Mr Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer, Tax Academy of Singapore, said: “Tax is not a footnote to cross-border investment – It can determine whether opportunity becomes reality. Tax Academy of Singapore sits at the intersection of government, industry, and academia, enabling us to translate policy into practical capability and connect the people who make investment happen. Through the PS Centre Alliance’s collaboration in Indonesia, we want to bring that strength to the Singapore-Indonesia corridor – helping businesses move from opportunity to execution.”

Ms Peggy Yee, Treasurer and Council Member of The Law Society of Singapore said: “With more businesses expanding across borders and industries, the ability to navigate legal and regulatory complexities will become a critical skill for both businesses and firms. Bringing the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia will further provide valuable and trusted support for enterprises in the region, ensuring access to trusted legal expertise along with other professional services.”

Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #ProfessionalServices #ProfessionalServicesCentre #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.

ISCA supports over 46,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.

ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.

For more information, visit .

Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered Tata Chemicals to end its operations in the country and said two new companies would be brought in to replace it, escalating a dispute over the future of soda ash mining at Lake Magadi.

Ruto announced the decision during a visit to Kajiado County on Thursday, arguing that Tata Chemicals’ long presence in the area had delivered insufficient industrial development for local communities. He said any replacement investors would be expected to establish manufacturing operations in the county rather than simply extract and export raw materials.

The president said one of the incoming companies should develop a major glass manufacturing plant, while another would produce chemicals in Kajiado. His comments signalled a shift towards requiring more domestic processing of minerals and greater value addition around Lake Magadi, one of Kenya’s best-known mineral production centres.

“That TATA company… had that contract for 100 years. They have not built anything in Kajiado, they have not built any factory in Kajiado,” Ruto said. He questioned why Kenya should continue exporting soda ash while importing products such as glass that can be manufactured using the mineral.

Tata Chemicals said it respected the authority of Kenya’s government and remained committed to resolving outstanding issues through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels. The company said its Kenya unit had submitted a comprehensive response to matters raised by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, including information concerning compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

The latest order follows a government directive that halted mining operations at Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited on July 28. The company had also been required to suspend exports of soda ash from its Magadi operation while the ministry reviewed regulatory concerns.

Tata Chemicals said on August 17 that it had provided all information, reports and documentation requested by the ministry and was awaiting further direction. At that stage, the company said it believed it had demonstrated compliance and was seeking a clear pathway to resume operations.

The company has disputed any suggestion that its activities have brought no benefit to the area. It said last month that about 500 employees and their families, as well as contractors, suppliers, transporters and local businesses, depended directly or indirectly on its Magadi operations. It also said about 30,000 people in the surrounding community benefited from its programmes in water, healthcare, education, infrastructure and community development.

Tata Chemicals Magadi describes itself as Africa’s leading producer of natural soda ash and one of Kenya’s leading exporters. The company says it exports more than 350,000 tonnes annually to markets in Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and elsewhere in Africa.

Its financial performance in Kenya has weakened amid pressure on global soda ash prices. Tata Chemicals reported that the Magadi unit generated revenue of ₹5.86 billion in the financial year ended March 2026, down from ₹6.12 billion a year earlier. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell to ₹1.01 billion from ₹1.42 billion, while net profit declined to ₹480 million from ₹1.18 billion.

The company nevertheless recorded higher sales volumes in Kenya during the year and commissioned new equipment, including a five-megawatt solar plant, a solar pond and a 50,000-tonne electric calciner soda ash facility. Those investments were disclosed before the July suspension.

Ruto’s government is now tying future access to the Lake Magadi resource to industrial projects inside Kajiado. Kenya’s state news agency said the president indicated that a new investor would be required to establish glass and chemical processing facilities before receiving a licence to operate.

The change places the Magadi operation’s ownership, workforce and supply relationships under fresh uncertainty. Tata Chemicals said its immediate priorities remained the welfare of employees, the Magadi community and other stakeholders while it continued engagement with government authorities.

No timetable has been announced for the two prospective replacement companies to begin operations, and the government has not publicly identified them. Details of how existing mining rights, licences, assets or contractual obligations would be transferred have also not been disclosed.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Vice President JD Vance has rejected describing the United States’ confrontation with Iran as a war, arguing that major combat operations ended weeks ago despite a sharp renewal of strikes across the Gulf. “I wouldn’t call it a war,” Vance told reporters at a White House briefing on Thursday. “Right now, there is no active shooting.” He acknowledged that fighting had flared in […]

Several leading artificial intelligence services, including ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Gemini, experienced access problems for some users on Thursday, with confirmed incidents affecting multiple platforms during overlapping periods. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and xAI’s Grok all showed signs of disruption during the day, while users also reported difficulties with Google’s Gemini. The scale and precise cause of the simultaneous problems were not immediately clear, and official status […]

The expansion of the CPMZ pipeline will add capacity to transport two billion more litres of fuel annually, strengthening supplies to Zimbabwe and wider regional markets

NHAMATANDA, MOZAMBIQUE – African Media Agency – 3 September 2026 – The President of Mozambique, H.E. Daniel Chapo and the President of Zimbabwe, H.E. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, today broke ground on a major expansion of the Beira-Harare fuel corridor that will increase pipeline capacity by 67% and strengthen energy security across Southern Africa.

CPMZ Expansion

The CPMZ project will increase the CPMZ pipeline’s annual transport capacity from 3 million to 5 million cubic metres by the end of 2027, supporting growing fuel demand in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and wider regional markets.

The expansion will add capacity to transport approximately two billion additional litres of fuel annually into Southern Africa’s interior, strengthening a critical supply route connecting the Port of Beira with Zimbabwe and supporting access to diesel, petrol and jet fuel across regional markets, including Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The project represents a significant investment in regional energy resilience and Mozambique-Zimbabwe cooperation, while construction and commissioning will take place without interrupting daily pipeline operations or fuel supplies to markets served by the corridor.

H.E. Daniel Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique, said:

“The expansion of the CPMZ pipeline is an important investment in Mozambique’s infrastructure and in the energy security of our region. By strengthening the connection between the Port of Beira and the Southern African hinterland, we are reinforcing Mozambique’s role as a strategic gateway for regional trade while deepening our cooperation with Zimbabwe. This is the kind of infrastructure investment that strengthens regional connectivity, supports economic activity and creates greater resilience for the future.”

Read more

Hashtag: #CPMZ

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Standard Chartered has begun offering institutional clients spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether through its Dubai International Financial Centre entity, extending its regulated digital-asset business in the UAE from custody into trade execution. The bank said on Thursday the service makes it the first global systemically important bank to provide institutional digital-asset spot trading in the UAE. Eligible clients can trade the two largest cryptocurrencies through Standard […]

French health insurance start-up Alan has acquired Dakar-based digital health company Tanel, giving the Paris-based group its first foothold in Africa and adding operations in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. The transaction, announced on September 2, brings Tanel’s approximately 70,000 covered lives and more than 400 corporate customers into Alan’s international network. Financial terms were not disclosed. Alan said Tanel’s existing team would remain in place while the […]

A strengthening El Niño is raising the risk of extreme heat, drought and veld fires across South Africa, increasing the likelihood of heavier weather-related losses for insurers during the 2026/27 summer season. The South African Weather Service has warned that the Pacific warming event is already strong and could intensify further, with sea-surface temperature anomalies in the east-central tropical Pacific exceeding the threshold used to classify a […]

Nepal’s catastrophic Himalayan flood has exposed a severe monitoring gap after scientists concluded that the rock-and-ice collapse that triggered the disaster developed in terrain where conventional forecasting offered little practical warning. The August 26 collapse high in the Lhende Khola catchment sent ice, rock and sediment plunging from the Lirung massif, temporarily blocked the river and then released a debris-charged torrent through Rasuwagadhi and the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai stc Bahrain has signed a strategic partnership with Tata Consultancy Services to transform its IT operations, introducing managed services and advanced automation as the telecoms provider seeks a more scalable, resilient digital infrastructure. The agreement, announced during LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, will focus on modernising stc Bahrain’s technology landscape and establishing what the company describes as a future-ready operating model. The programme is […]

Chevron will invest more than $7 billion through its Venezuelan joint ventures over five years, aiming to more than double production to about 600,000 barrels a day as it enlarges its position in the country’s oil sector. The Houston-based company said agreements reached with Venezuela provide updated fiscal, commercial and legal terms intended to support long-term investment, project development and higher production. Chevron was also assigned additional […]

Nutex Health has confirmed that an unauthorised third party stole sensitive patient, employee, provider, business and financial information from its computer network and threatened to publish the data externally. The Houston-based healthcare provider disclosed the findings in an August 31 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, upgrading its earlier notification of the intrusion to a report under the regulator’s category for material cybersecurity incidents. The […]

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