The eagle in a storm

The new year opened with turmoil in the Chinese stock markets as prices fell dramatically, leading to a global selloff. In just one week, global stock markets lost over $2 trillion US dollars! Other news in the global markets saw the price of a barrel of crude oil fall below $35 per barrel, down from a high of $62 per barrel less than 12 months ago. That’s down 50% in 12 months and 71% in 24 months!

Since the beginning of last year, 2015, the price of copper has fallen by 30%; iron ore is down by 42%; platinum has also been a disaster, losing more than half its value from less than three years ago. Agricultural commodities have not fared much better on global markets. Last week the South African rand hit an all-time low of 16:1 against the United States dollar and it’s still falling!

Your small business in Harare, Lagos or Nairobi may not have anything to do with China, or with any commodity like oil, iron ore, or platinum, so you might be asking yourself, “What’s that got to do with me?” Answer: EVERYTHING! It has everything to do with you, and its impact is going to be very personal... Brace yourself, there’s a storm on its way!

You might even be sitting at your desk as a civil servant, or supervising children at school as a teacher, or upholding the law as a policeman; or maybe you’re a pensioner, and you’re also saying to yourself, "I'm not in business; I don't know anything about these things, so what’s it got to do with me?” Answer: EVERYTHING! It has everything to do with you, and its impact is going to be very personal... Brace yourself, there’s a storm on its way!

You look at the sky and see rolling black clouds. The wind is picking up and you say to yourself, “A big storm is on the way.” Even though rain isn’t yet falling, you know the signs of a heavy rain storm and that you must button things down and secure yourself properly. Or maybe you’re one of millions on the continent today suffering another rainless sky, for months on end, putting your fields, crops, livestock, perhaps your whole life at risk...

These are "signs" in weather conditions. Those who are experienced in such things can usually say with a degree of certainty that a storm is coming. However, if you do not understand these matters, or you blissfully decide to ignore them, you’ll suffer a serious drenching or worse.

In business economics we also have signs, and we're seeing these warning signs right now. They're not any different from the black clouds and the wind, or the clear sky and the drought. They're all linked. The stock markets of China and New York may seem far away, and global commodity prices and exchange rates may seem irrelevant to your village, but they’re linked to the real economy in which you live and work!

The next 12 months or more will be very tough, particularly in emerging markets. Many African countries will find it hard going. Consequently, it will be tough for citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable. The weaker your country's economy going into the storm, the tougher it will be. Similarly, the weaker your company or employer, the tougher it will be...

__There is a storm coming.

Now let me tell you about the flight of the eagle. Prophets and Kings of the bible world absolutely loved watching this majestic bird. They believed the eagle is the only bird that flies during a storm. It's developed a flying technique (a skill) they call "mounting" the wind (as though it were climbing a stairway). The eagle has so mastered the storm that it not only flies during storms, but can find opportunities to prosper; it can actually use the storm to its advantage.

Even in these storms, those with the correct mindset will prepare themselves. They will train themselves to understand the times, and learn to prosper in its headwinds… they will mount on wings as eagles!

Yes, it’s going to be very tough, and for some of you, tougher than anything you could have imagined, but you must not be discouraged or wearied. And when you come through it, you will be much better at what you do. Just don't be afraid, and don't panic. In this series I will remind you of some of the things you must do to prosper like the eagle.

This year we must be serious, very serious. Africa expects it of us.

With Strive Masiyiwa

Americans missing in Iraq

The US embassy says "several" Americans have gone missing in Iraq after local media reported that three US citizens had been kidnapped in Baghdad, according to Aljazeera.

"We are working in full cooperation with Iraqi authorities to locate the missing Americans," US embassy spokesman Scott Bolz said.

Bolz did not identify the missing Americans or say what they were doing in Iraq.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said "due to privacy considerations" he had nothing further to add about the missing Americans.

"The safety and security of Americans abroad is our highest priority," Kirby said.

The comments by US officials came after the Arab news channel, al-Arabiya, citing its own sources, reported that three Americans had been kidnapped by militias in Baghdad.

Iraqi media reports said the Americans went missing in the south of the capital on their way to Baghdad International Airport.

A Western security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media, told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday that he had been told that three Americans went missing 24 to 48 hours ago.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility.

Kidnappings in Iraq have been carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Shia militias, as well as criminal gangs demanding ransom payments or disgruntled employees seeking to resolve workplace disputes.

The incident comes after a week that has seen a deterioration of security in and around the Iraqi capital after months of relative calm.

ISIL claimed a number of attacks in Baghdad and neighbouring Diyala province last week that killed more than 50 people, including a high-profile attack on a Baghdad mall. The string of ISIL attacks on civilian targets within areas of Iraqi government control follow battlefield losses, most recently in western Iraq.

Last month, Iraqi troops pushed fighters out of the centre of Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar province in Iraq's Sunni heartland.

Burkina Faso begins mourning after 12-hour siege by al-Qaeda fighters which left 28 people dead.

Burkina Faso has begun three days of national mourning after al-Qaeda fighters killed at least 28 people in an attack on a hotel and cafe popular with foreigners.

The national mourning began on Sunday, a day after government soldiers and French forces ended a more than 12-hour siege at the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou's business district.

President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said the people of Burkina Faso must unite in the fight against "terrorism".

He also announced on the national broadcaster, Burkina 24, that security forces would be stepping up their efforts to thwart future attacks and asked people to comply with the new restrictions.

"These truly barbaric criminal acts carried out against innocent people, claimed by the criminal organisation al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), seek to destabilise our country and its republican institutions, and to undermine efforts to build a democratic, quiet and prosperous nation," said Kabore.

The attack, which began on Friday night, was the first of its kind in Burkina Faso.

The al-Qaeda group, claiming responsibility for the killings, released an audiotape titled: A Message Signed with Blood and Body Parts.

When the gunfire and explosions finally stopped, authorities said 18 were killed in the hotel and 10 were killed at the nearby Cappuccino Cafe.

Among the victims was a Ukrainian woman who was co-owner of the cafe with her Italian husband, Gaetano Santomenna, according to Ukrainian officials.

Although Santomenna was not at the cafe and survived the attack, the couple's son, Michel Santomenna, nine, was killed, according to the Italian foreign ministry.

Paolo Gentiloni, Italy's foreign minister, called the child's death "a horrendous crime" in a tweet, which also expressed sympathy with the boy's father.

The toll includes six Canadians, according to Canadian officials.

Others killed include seven citizens of Burkina Faso, two Ukrainians, two Swiss, two French and one each from the US, Holland, Portugal and Libya, and one French-Ukrainian, according to Burkina Faso officials who released a partial list.

Other bodies were being identified.

The American - Michael Riddering, 45, of Cooper City, Florida - had been working as a missionary in Burkina Faso since 2011, where he and his wife ran an orphanage that also provided shelter to abused women and widows.

He is survived by his four children, two of whom were adopted from Burkina Faso.

Swiss authorities said its two nationals who were killed were also in Burkina Faso for humanitarian reasons.

With Aljazeera

Niger State Election: APC Sweeps Poll Again

The ruling party APC in Niger State has cleared all the positions in the 25 local government areas in recently held election.

Low turnout and late arrival of electoral materials characterised the local government elections, as electorates and party agents blamed neglect and ill-treatment on some alleged quarters on Saturday, according to Channel Television.

Although, the election was relatively peaceful, there was low turnout of voters as some of them were accredited and didn’t come out to vote.

The Niger State Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Tanko Beji, while leaving the office of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) described the local government election as very unfortunate.

Mr Beji, after hearing some results on Sunday, expressed displeasure in the results announced, adding that he would consult the party before would take a stand later on the matter.

The local governments results collected from the various council returning officers were: Agaie, Chanchaga, Bosso, Lavun, Mokwa, Edati, Magama, Munya, Pailkoro and Rafi.

Others were: Rijau, Shiroro, Tafa, Bida, Wushishi, Gbako, Mariga, Lapai, Gurara, Borgu, Agwara, and Katcha Local Government Areas.

The only local government result being awaited was Kontagora, the country home of the State Governor.

Meanwhile election could not hold in Suleja Local Government Area due to perceived crisis in the area. It was rescheduled to hold on Saturday, January 23.

No Ozil, No Party As Stoke City Held Arsenal To A Goalless Draw

Arsenal failed to beat Stoke away from home for the sixth straight game but a 0-0 draw took them top of the Premier League.

It was a game where both goalkeepers shone as Jack Butland denied Olivier Giroud with two smart saves either side of the break before Petr Cech stood strong in the second period.

Stoke have now lost just one of their eight league games at the Britannia Stadium against Arsenal, who jump above Leicester City in the table but only on goal difference.

Arsene Wenger's side missed the creativity of Mesut Ozil, who was injured, but had chances to win the game only to be denied by Jack Butland.

The England goalkeeper tipped over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's long-range strike, before denying Olivier Giroud's header.

Stoke finished strongly as Jon Walters had a late header cleared off the line by Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal have started 2016 well poised to challenge for a first league title in 12 years, and key to their impressive form this season has been Ozil.

The German tops the Premier League assist chart with 16, so his absence on Sunday because of a foot injury was undoubtedly a big blow for the Gunners.

It did, however, provided Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the chance to step up.

He certainly looked like he had a point to prove, forcing Butland into a fine one-handed save with a curling strike midway through the first half.

However, he was also guilty of losing possession at times and became increasingly anonymous as the game wore on.

If he is to prove himself an able deputy for Ozil, he will need to a show a lot more than he did on Sunday.

Arsenal may never get as good a chance to win the league as they will this season, with the challenge from their traditional title rivals faltering.

Arsene Wenger's side had lost just once in the eight games prior to the trip to Stoke, but Gunners fans might have been forgiven for feeling a little uneasy about their recent away form - they have now picked up just six points from a possible 18.

Arsenal were looking for their first win at the Britannia Stadium since 2010, so a victory at Stoke - especially without their talisman Ozil - would certainly underline their credentials as genuine title contenders.

In the opening stages of the game, however, they were second best, struggling to match Stoke's neat passing.

They improved as the game wore on, but not by much. Giroud's header - well saved by Butland - was their only effort on target in the second half.

Stoke's attacking talent has, quite rightly, been getting plenty of praise this season but Butland has been just as impressive in the Potters' goal.

His total of 81 is more saves than any other goalkeeper has made in the Premier League this season and he was key to Stoke's frustrating of Arsenal.

His saves from Oxlade-Chamberlain and Giroud kept his side in the game, allowing them to press in the closing stages as the visitors retreated, opting to protect the point.

As a consequence, Stoke could have snatched all three points just before full-time, but Walters' header from a corner was kept out by Ramsey, before Petr Cech blocked Joselu's follow-up.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes, talking to BBC Sport: "It was a game between evenly matched sides. Both teams approached the game in the right manner and created chances. All-in-all we're pleased. It shows our progress. Teams have found it difficult to get points here. 

"We are showing everyone we have belief in our ability. There was a period where Arsenal had some play around the box without creating too much. It was a similar story at the other end.

"It was a competitive game. At times, there were good opportunities to put the ball in the box and so the only criticism I would have is that we were reluctant to do that."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, speaking to BBC Sport: “Maybe we had a better opportunities to score, they played very well, very physical and were very direct, which is an unusual style for them.

"We needed to be strong physically and had a great spirit, we fought very hard but couldn't take our chances. It is a hard fought 0-0. We have done better than years before at this ground and showed we can fight even when we miss certain players.

"Petr Cech was outstanding, we needed a player like him in the air when Stoke played that kind of game."