
What's behind Zimbabwe's debt crisis gold gamble? – DW – 06/04/2025
06/04/2025
June 4, 2025
Zimbabwe's latest effort to stabilize its economy comes in the form of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), a gold-backed currency introduced in April 2024 to combat hyperinflation, restore confidence and address mounting debt. However, the ZiG has rapidly lost value on the parallel market. DW's Josey Mahachi speaks with Zimbabwean Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

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Trump-Musk feud: What's at stake for world's richest man – DW – 06/06/2025
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Tesla shares have been on a wild rollercoaster ride this year after a strong performance around the US election. Having peaked at $428 in January, shares in the electric vehiclemaker plummeted by almost half in March as investors reacted negatively to Musk's involvement in the Trump administration. Tesla stock then rallied when Trump paused his unprecedented tariffs on the rest of the world and after US regulators eased rules on self-driving vehicles. Trump came to Musk's aid when Tesla vehicles and dealerships were attacked Image:What's at stake for Musk's empire? The public spat, as well as Trump's budget plans, have left the fortunes of Musk's companies hanging in the balance. Tesla, Musk's most profitable firm, could be severely impacted by Trump's plans to cut a subsidy on new electric vehicles that is worth up to $7,500 for buyers. Despite Musk's aggressive criticism and lobbying by Tesla, Trump plans to eliminate the credit by the end of the year, seven years before it was due to expire. News agency Bloomberg cited JP Morgan analysts as saying that the cut would reduce Tesla's full-year profit by $1.2 billion. Cuts to state-level credits could further impact the EV maker's bottom line this financial year. It could, however, encourage EV buyers to bring forward their plans and spur demand for Tesla's vehicles in the short term. Tesla is already being impacted by Trump's tariffs as the firm relies on Chinese parts for its Cybercab robotaxi and Semi electric truck. Starlink satellite system shaping modern warfare To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video However, it is unclear whether Trump can unilaterally make good on his threat to tear up federal contracts with Musk's firms like SpaceX. Since 2000, SpaceX has received more than $22 billion in contracts from the US Defense Department and space agency NASA. If Trump were to terminate the contracts, it would have a huge financial impact on SpaceX and disrupt the US government's space ambitions. SpaceX's Crew Dragon is currently the only US spacecraft certified to carry crew to the International Space Station (ISS). Any ending of Pentagon contracts involving Musk's Starlink satellite internet service would also be a lose-lose for both Musk and the government. Starlink provides broadband services to rural areas. Terminals are also deployed on US military bases, ships, aircraft, and armored vehicles. The satellite internet service is often used for disaster response. Edited by: Uwe Hessler


DW
9 hours ago
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Kenya: Gen Z questions Ruto's new jobs initiative – DW – 06/06/2025
Kenyan President William Ruto's new youth employment plan promises jobs to 800,000 young Kenyans. But amid economic strain and past unfulfilled pledges, many remain unconvinced. Kenyan President William Ruto announced an ambitious initiative to tackle Kenya's youth unemployment issue earlier this week. The program, dubbed the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), which aims to target over 800,000 young Kenyans, has sparked skepticism among Generation Z — the term generally used to describe people born during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many Gen Zers in Kenya question the feasibility of to tackle youth unemployment amid budget constraints and a track record of unfulfilled pledges. According to the Kenyan leader, the NYOTA project is a 20 billion Kenyan shillings ($154.8 million/€135.5 million) partnership with the World Bank aimed at supporting young Kenyans between 18 and 29 — and up to 35 for people with disabilities. "In recognition of the immense potential of our young people, their critical role in the economy, and their capacity for creativity and innovation, the Government of Kenya has partnered with the World Bank to roll out the 20 billion National Youth Opportunity towards Advancement Project," said Ruto, noting that the initial 100,000 jobs will start as soon as next week. "We have committed 5 billion Kenyan shillings in grants to support 100,000 young people. We are not just offering a paycheck for today, we are providing financial relief and a bridge to future opportunities," Ruto added. But even as the president framed the plan as a generational investment, many young Kenyans dismissed it as political posturing. 'We don't trust him anymore' Young Kenyans are often seen as tech-savvy "keyboard warriors" who have increasingly asserted themselves as a politically conscious group pushing for transparency, accountability and good governance. Is Gen Z lazy, or are they onto something? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Risper Waithera, a university student in Nairobi, described the plan as unrealistic. "According to the current budget constraints that the government is undergoing, I don't think it's actually realistic to think that he can employ 800,000 youths in Kenya right now," she told DW. Last year, Gen Z protesters demanded better governance from Ruto, who dismissed nearly his entire cabinet in response to the demonstrations. For Lucy Njeri, the issue is one of broken trust: "The degree [to which] Gen Z trusts whatever the president is saying is very low. That is because he has promised a lot in the past, and there's been little to zero implementation of the promises before," she said. Expert doubts funding and sustainability The plan's financial foundation has also come under scrutiny. Alexander Riithi, head of programs at the Institute for Social Accountability, warned that the budget lacks clarity and fails to outline how the funds will be managed or distributed. "Given the many promises the president has issued in the past, people are a bit skeptical... We have not seen any allocation in the budget for this particular program," he told DW. "If you look at even the pay that is suggested, 500 shillings [about $3.87] a day for the workers and 580 shillings [around $4.50] for supervisors, this is even lower than what people in the construction industry get," he said. Riithi also highlighted what he called a contradiction in the president's approach. "This is the same thing that the president used against the Kazi Mtaani program of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He said you cannot have educated people going to slash grass." Kazi Mtaani was a public works program launched by Ruto's predecessor to provide short-term employment to young people through tasks such as street cleaning, garbage collection and landscaping. Patricia Rodrigues, associate director at Control Risks, an international political risk consultancy, told DW that the skepticism around the plan is rooted in Ruto's strained relationship with young voters. "The president has not had the best track record or reputation with young people in Kenya. While he came to power promising a lot of things, some of those promises have not been necessarily met," she said. "These programs cost money, and the Kenyan government does not necessarily have the finances available to do everything that it had intended." 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For Ruto, the initiative may be an attempt to reconnect with the demographic that was pivotal in challenging his administration's policies online and on the streets. With the 2027 general election on the horizon, appealing to young voters, who make up the majority of Kenya's population, could be a strategic move to rebuild trust and regain political ground. A Gen Z lifestyle in Amsterdam To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Keith Walker


DW
a day ago
- DW
Harsh reactions on doubled steel tariffs – DW – 06/05/2025
Four days after announcing a doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminium, the higher tariffs are now in place. It mostly affects neighbor countries Canada and Mexico, two of the US' biggest steel suppliers. The US has raised tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effectively shutting Canadian exports out of the US market. Mexican officials believe the tariffs will eventually need adjustments due to their economic impact. President Donald Trump is using tariffs as leverage to push for individual trade agreements, with the UK being the only country to finalize a deal so far. While the tariffs are meant to protect American industries and jobs, they also increase costs for key sectors like auto manufacturing and construction. These price hikes may ultimately burden US consumers, including many of Trump's supporters. This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.