Company News in Brief

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Ructions in Lesotho over licensing of Starlink



Earlier this week, Lesotho succumbed to pressure and granted a 10-year licence to Starlink Lesotho, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This followed an announcement by Prime Minister Samuel Matekane earlier this month that his government would remove barriers to US investment, in the midst of a tariff onslaught. On 2 April, US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Lesotho – the highest among all affected countries – threatening up to 12 000 jobs in factories that export to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). He later paused the 50% tariff for 90 days. But this still leaves in place a 10% tariff that came into effect on 5 April.

The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) announced on Monday that its board of directors had approved Starlink’s application to provide satellite internet services across the country.

The LCA said this was a milestone in Lesotho’s digital transformation and a commitment to building a competitive, transparent and innovative communications sector. “The approval of the operating licence clears the path for the authority to finalise the terms and conditions under which Starlink Lesotho will provide satellite internet services to individuals and businesses across Lesotho,” the LCA said in a statement.-TECHCENTRAL



Ghana government takes control of Gold Fields' Damang mine, lands ministry says



Ghana's government has assumed operational control of Gold Fields' Damang mine after it rejected an application from the South African company to renew its lease, the ministry of lands and natural resources said in a statement on Wednesday.-REUTERS



Roche to invest $50 billion in U.S. to avoid Trump tariffs, create 12 000 jobs



Roche said on Tuesday it would invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, creating more than 12 000 new jobs, in the latest massive investment by companies reacting to President Donald Trump's tariffs policy. The Swiss pharma giant said the new positions would include nearly 6 500 in construction and 1 000 at new and expanded facilities. The announcement comes as drugmakers unveil investments to deal with tariffs from the Trump administration, which is seeking to boost domestic manufacturing. Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker said the investment underscored Roche's commitment to the United States, where it employs 25,000 people across 24 sites.

Once the new and expanded manufacturing capacity comes online, Roche will export more medicines from the United States than it imports, the Basel company said.