TRADE: Ben Carson to Visit Homeland Kenya by John Green

Ben Carson will tour Kenya, which he says is his ancestral home, Nigeria and Zambia in a week-long tour from December 27.

In July, the 63 year-old retired neuro-surgeon and US Republican presidential candidate said his ancestors were of the Turkana tribe.

"I think a lot of our policy in the future is going to affect Africa," he told US radio host Hugh Hewitt during an interview on Monday.

"But I'm going to those three countries in particular because my ancestors are from the Kenya-Tanzania region, the Turkana tribe. I've had all of that traced back."

Carson said the tour will enable him make decisions based on "seeing things firsthand" as opposed to "filtered information".

He said his trip to Nigeria will include a visit to a medical school named after him.

"I want to get an idea from the people what the effects of the Boko Haram are, what people are thinking, to see what the economic situation is there," he added.

He said he will go to Zambia as the Banda twins are there, noting he was part of a team that separated them.

"We separated them. They were joined at the top of the head facing in opposite directions almost 18 years ago and this is the year they graduate from high school,' he said.

Carson said his recent visit to a refugee camp cemented his conviction to resettle those fleeing violence in Syria in the Middle East, rather than in the United States.

"By going over to Jordan and actually talking to the Syrians and really getting their perspective on things, I saw it was very different from what we hear in the media. And it makes a difference,' he said.

Carson's July revelation sparked excitement concerning the possibility that another leader with Kenyan roots could make it to the White House.

US President Barack Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, visited his homeland for the July 24 to 26 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, that he co-hosted with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Chinese company to complete cross-Kenya railway by Billwydad Wangai

A major Chinese company has won contracts to complete a rail link running across Kenya－a major project expected to boost connections in East Africa. China Communications Construction Co has signed a framework agreement with the Kenyan government to build two more sections of the Mombasa-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway.

In September, the company won a contract worth US$1.48 billion (S$2 billion) to extend the Mombasa-Nairobi line by 120 kilometers to Naivasha, a stop between Nairobi, the capital, and Malaba.

Earlier this month, it signed a framework deal to build the remaining section linking Naivasha and Malaba. The cost of this project has not been announced.

The company’s subsidiary, China Road and Bridge Corp, is building a railway connecting Mombasa with Nairobi at a cost of US$3.8 billion, which is scheduled for completion in 2017.

The 960-km Mombasa-Malaba railway is expected to significantly boost economic growth, regional integration and industrialization.

The latest contract for the Nairobi-Malaba railway went to the Chinese company after President Xi Jinping announced aid and loans worth $60 billion for Africa to help the continent address its top three problems－infrastructure, talent and funding.

Liu Qitao, chairman of China Communications Construction Co, said it secured contracts worth US$5 billion and loans for them during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Johannesburg last week.

The projects include railway and hydropower stations. Liu said the company is still seeking finance for contracts worth another US$5 billion.

When completed, the Nairobi-Malaba railway will be linked to others in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, forming an East African network, the company said.

The Nairobi-Malaba section will improve transportation in northern Kenya and reduce the cost of cross-border travel, it said.

TECH: First Uganda-built car to be out by 2018 – Official by Billwydad Wangai

Uganda's Kiira EV

Uganda’s first locally assembled vehicle, known as Kiira Motors will be on the market in 2018, as was revealed here on Monday as Kiira Motors Limited presented their business plan for the assembling of the vehicle.

In his business case presentation, Chris Kattola, the Chief Engineer of National Instruments, a US-based vehicle parts manufacturer, said the Kiira vehicle project was not only feasible but necessary for Uganda. He said the first Kiira vehicle should be manufactured by 2018 and the project should break-even by 2023.

The vehicle is a joint venture between Makerere University and the government of Uganda, with seed funding from the Presidential Innovation Fund. They were boosted by a team of consultants and advisers namely RLE International and National Instruments from the United States, Arup Group from the United Kingdom, Automotive Investment Holdings from South Africa and Valmet from Finland.

Kattola said once established, the car industry in Uganda would have enough market. Uganda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said the Ugandan government would fully support the project.

The Kiira car project was conceived in 2007 by students in the College of Engineering, Design and Art of Makerere University.

MOTORSPORT: Jaeger replaces Fløene alongside Mikkelsen by John Green

Ola Fløene (NOR) Volkswagen Polo R WRC (2015)

Anders Jaeger will step up from the Junior WRC to co-drive Andreas Mikkelsen next season following the surprise decision of Ola Fløene to quit earlier this week.

Jaeger has started only nine WRC rounds alongside Ole Christian Veiby and his promotion comes 12 months earlier than expected. He was due to replace Fløene in Mikkelsen’s Volkswagen Polo R in 2017.

The announcement ends a Scandinavian merry-go-round which began when Jonas Andersson left Mads Østberg to join Pontus Tidemand. Fløene then decided to leave Mikkelsen and fill the seat alongside Østberg in M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta RS.

“Anders has already been my co-driver on a couple of tests and he is very good in the car. He is a talented guy and I’m confident this is the best solution,” said Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen scored his maiden WRC win alongside Fløene in Spain in October and they started 50 WRC events together.

“There are so many good memories with Ola. Together we have come a long way and I have learned a lot with him alongside me. There is no doubt I will miss him! Ola will always have that special place in my heart,” he said.

Jaeger, 26, finished second in the Junior WRC alongside Veiby, who is part of the same EVEN Management set-up as Mikkelsen, and has no fears about such a big step-up.

“I’ve already been alongside Andreas at a few tests, so I know the speed is different from my previous experience in the WRC, but with the strength and support from Andreas and the team, we have the best foundation to make this work,” he said.

MOTORSPORT: Mercedes sue Ferrari-bound engineer by John Green

Lewis Hamilton

The Mercedes Formula One team is taking legal action against an engineer alleged to have downloaded sensitive performance data before he was due to join rivals Ferrari. 

"A legal action is under way involving Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) Limited and an employee who is due to leave the company at the end of the year," said a team spokesman on Tuesday.



"The company has taken the appropriate legal steps to protect its intellectual property."

The BBC identified the employee as Benjamin Hoyle. HPP design, build and supply the team's power units.

Mercedes have been dominant in Formula One since the introduction last year of the new V6 turbo hybrid power units that replaced the old V8 engines.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton, now a triple champion, has won the last two drivers' titles while Mercedes this year retained the constructors' crown they won in 2014.

Ferrari have been their closest rivals, winning three grands prix and closing the performance gap noticeably this year after failing to win a race in 2014. They aim to be much more competitive in 2016.

Mercedes this year supplied engines to Williams, Force India and Lotus, although the latter team are due to become Renault-powered next year with tailenders Manor Marussia set to switch from Ferrari to Mercedes.

Key figures in Formula One teams are usually put on lengthy periods of 'gardening leave' when they hand in their notice to ensure they do not take technical information with them.

Jock Clear, Hamilton's former performance engineer at Mercedes, started at Maranello as head of engineering only recently after Ferrari announced a year ago that he would be joining them.

Formula One was rocked by a spy scandal in 2007 when a 780-page dossier of sensitive Ferrari technical information was found in the possession of then-McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan.

Coughlan was sacked by McLaren while Ferrari dismissed Nigel Stepney, the engineer accused of passing the information to him, in what became known as 'Spygate'.

McLaren were subsequently handed a record $100 million fine, although they ultimately paid less, and the loss of all their constructors' points that year, a move that secured Ferrari the championship.

FOOTBALL: Blow for Barcelona as Neymar suffers groin injury by John Green

Neymar injured in Barcelona training, no timetable for return

The Brazilian has made an exhilarating start to the new campaign, topping the Liga scoring charts with 14 goals, but is sidelined for an unspecified period of time

Barcelona have suffered an injury set-back after Brazilian forward Neymar picked up a groin problem in training on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old is now seemingly ruled out of Barca's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, with the former Santos star having been taking part in his side's pre-match training session.

The Liga club released a statement on Tuesday confirming the 23-year-old has a "slight groin strain", although they haven't revealed how long he will be sidelined for.

The Catalans, who face German side Leverkusen at the BayArena, have already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners.

BUSINESS: Chinese company to complete cross-Kenya railway by Billwydad Wangai

Fast train lane concept

A major Chinese company has won contracts to complete a rail link running across Kenya－a major project expected to boost connections in East Africa. China Communications Construction Co has signed a framework agreement with the Kenyan government to build two more sections of the Mombasa-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway.

In September, the company won a contract worth US$1.48 billion (S$2 billion) to extend the Mombasa-Nairobi line by 120 kilometers to Naivasha, a stop between Nairobi, the capital, and Malaba.

Earlier this month, it signed a framework deal to build the remaining section linking Naivasha and Malaba. The cost of this project has not been announced.

The company’s subsidiary, China Road and Bridge Corp, is building a railway connecting Mombasa with Nairobi at a cost of US$3.8 billion, which is scheduled for completion in 2017.

The 960-km Mombasa-Malaba railway is expected to significantly boost economic growth, regional integration and industrialization.

The latest contract for the Nairobi-Malaba railway went to the Chinese company after President Xi Jinping announced aid and loans worth $60 billion for Africa to help the continent address its top three problems－infrastructure, talent and funding.

Liu Qitao, chairman of China Communications Construction Co, said it secured contracts worth US$5 billion and loans for them during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Johannesburg last week.

The projects include railway and hydropower stations. Liu said the company is still seeking finance for contracts worth another US$5 billion.

When completed, the Nairobi-Malaba railway will be linked to others in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, forming an East African network, the company said.

The Nairobi-Malaba section will improve transportation in northern Kenya and reduce the cost of cross-border travel, it said.