10/09/2025

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | SEPT 10, 2025

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Do Ethiopians dream of electric cars?

“I will be surprised if there is a major announcement regarding Apple’s AI strategy,“ Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said in a note. “I am afraid that Apple’s incremental innovation approach with the iPhone 17 will start reaching its limits – especially for those who are hungry for more innovation,“ he added. Yesterday’s main attraction should be the new iPhone models, headlined by an ultra-thin “Air” variant. Most analysts view this as a strategic pivot – Apple is positioning thinness, rather than screen size, as the new premium differentiator. A super-thin iPhone could also lay the foundation for a foldable version of the smartphone, expected in the coming years. But the engineering demands of thin phones can make them more costly to produce and shrink battery space. Prices of the new iPhones in the US are expected to climb as President Donald Trump’s tariffs add to Apple’s production costs. Since China remains Apple’s primary production hub, these trade policies directly impact costs. “Apple is navigating a delicate balance between its two largest markets – the US and China – amid rising trade tensions,“ Canalys said. exploring acquiring imagery from approved Korean third parties where appropriate,“ Google vice-president Cris Turner told reporters. The announcement suggests the conclusion of a nearly two-decade dispute in which Google has argued for access to detailed South Korean maps to offer full walking and driving directions, only for Seoul to refuse to export that data for national security reasons. Turner added that Google would “invest a lot of time and resources” to remove the coordinates of security facilities from its maps. Google Maps access has been raised in South Korea’s recent trade talks with the US, where Seoul managed to secure a last-minute tariff reduction from President Donald Trump. The South Korean presidential office said that high-precision map data was among the topics that the trade minister had discussed “most extensively” with their US counterpart. – AFP and qualified mechanics. And there are only around 100 charging stations in the whole country, meaning drivers cannot plan long journeys outside the capital. “We need more than 2,300,” admitted Bareo at the transport department. High prices for EVs are also a pressing issue, which the government hopes to counter by tempting foreign manufacturers to produce locally. The unreliable electricity supply is also a worry, though the government hopes the inauguration of a massive mega-dam this week – expected to double the country’s electrical capacity – will facilitate the green transition. It cannot come soon enough: near Addis Ababa International Airport, dozens of EV drivers wait to use chargers operated by the national operator Ethio Telecom. “It has been four days since the power went out in my area, so I am charging it here,” said one customer Semagn Getnet. “Electric cars are good and pleasing, but there are some problems,” he added.

The Silicon Valley powerhouse has remained tight-lipped about what is in store at an event dubbed“Awe Dropping”in invitations, but it comes at the time of year Apple typically introduces a new generation of iPhones that drive its revenue. Despite iPhones maintaining their premium market position, Apple faces mounting pressure to prove it is keeping pace in the generative AI race. “Apple’s perception as being ‘late to the AI party’ presents a significant challenge,“ market tracker Canalys said in an analyst note. While iPhone challengers powered by Google-backed Android have “aggressively advanced AI integration, Apple’s slower rollout of first-party AI features has created adoption gaps,“ with people delaying new iPhone purchases, Canalys added. Apple introduced its “Apple Intelligence” AI features late last year, but the features underwhelmed users – particularly the long awaited improvements to its Siri voice assistant, which remained disappointingly basic. Looking ahead, Apple reportedly plans to integrate AI into online search next year alongside a Siri overhaul, though the company has not confirmed these reports. Apple is also SEOUL: Google said yesterday that it would comply with the South Korean government’s demand to blur sensitive satellite images on its mapping services, paving the way for the US tech giant to compete better with local navigation platforms. South Korea is one of the few places in the world, like Russia and China, where Google Maps does not fully function. That is because South Korean laws require that companies store core geospatial data locally, something Google has long refused to do. As a result, domestic tech firms like Naver and Kakao have cornered the market for mapping services, making navigation harder for foreign visitors unfamiliar with their platforms. Google confirmed for the first time yesterday that it would abide by Seoul’s demand. “We have already confirmed our commitment with the government to blur satellite images as required and we’ll be fuel shortages. Abduraheman used to spend about 4,000 birr (RM114) each month on fuel, but now spends the equivalent of US$4 on charging. EVs are increasingly visible in the capital, mostly Chinese brands. Residents have even glimpsed an outlandish Tesla Cybertruck, which retails for over US$100,000, crawling through Addis Ababa’s streets. The city’s buses are also now electric. Economic analyst Samson Berhane said the EV transition had been “more successful than initially anticipated”. “This can be attributed to the country’s rapidly growing middle class and the surging demand for new vehicles,” he told AFP. While charging stations have mushroomed across the capital, he said, “many consumers have taken the initiative to install chargers at home and at work.” The rapid transition has not come without challenges. There are reports of shortages of EV parts

o Country’s ban on petrol and diesel cars sparks EV boom, but costs and weak infrastructure remain hurdles

ADDIS Mehammed Abduraheman set her sights on an electric car four months ago, joining more than 100,000 Ethiopians who have made the green switch. While electric vehicle (EV) sales in Africa accounted for only 1% of the global market in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency, Ethiopia wants to change that. In a world first, the government last year banned the import of petrol and diesel vehicles, partly for green reasons but also to help wean the country off increasingly expensive fuel. Many welcomed the shift. “I was tired of waiting in line to fill up,” Abduraheman, a 36-year-old development consultant, told AFP in the capital Addis Ababa, where petrol queues can stretch for hundreds of metres and eat up half of a day. ABABA: Kemeriya

Bareo Hassen Bareo, who heads green mobility at the Department of Transport, said there were already 115,000 EVs – 7% of vehicles – on the road. “In 10 years, we will have more than 500,000,” he told AFP. But the vehicles remain hugely expensive, especially in a country where nearly 40% of the population lives on less than US$3 (RM12.65) a day, according to the World Bank. Abduraheman paid around US$34,000 to buy a model from Chinese brand BYD, describing it as a “long-term” decision. “I’ve been able to save on costs, I’ve been able to save on time, in terms of not lining up for gas,” she said. The landlocked country depends on the ports of neighbouring Djibouti and often faces

AI and iPhones likely stars of Apple event SAN FRANCISCO: Apple is set to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup on yesterday, with enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) features expected to take centre stage. reported to be partnering with Google to leverage its search and AI expertise.

Milestone in Cambodia aviation as new international airport starts ops An Air Cambodia A320 given a water cannon welcome upon its arrival at the newly built Techo International Airport yesterday. – AFPPIX

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia unveiled its prestigious RM6 billion (US$1.5 billion) infrastructure project the Techo International Airport, with flight operations beginning yesterday, marking a milestone in regional connectivity development. Situated in Kandal Province, an economic centre about 20km from Phnom Penh, the ultra modern 4F class airport is designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8. “The opening of Techo International Airport is a historic turning point in Cambodia’s infrastructure improvement and economic upgrading. “This project is in line with Cambodia’s aspiration to become a catalyst for growth in the sub-region linking Asean to the broader Asia Pacific region and the world,” political economist and columnist Dr Darin Duch told Bernama. Authorities have chosen Sept 9, considered an auspicious number in the Chinese zodiac and coinciding with the second day of “Pchum Ben,“ a much-revered traditional Khmer religious festival, to launch the airport’s operations. The international airport will be officially inaugurated on Oct 20. Starting yesterday, Terminal 1 is fully operational, offering flight services for both national and international travellers. The Phnom Penh International Airport, which has been the main gateway into Cambodia since the 1950s, will cease operations immediately. The airport operators have established

ambitious targets for the new airport: Phase 1 aims to accommodate 13 million passengers, Phase 2 will handle 30 million, and Phase 3 is designed for 50 million flyers. “Cambodia has actively expanded and upgraded its international airports to meet growing travel demand, enhancing connectivity for travellers, especially those visiting Cambodia,” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in his Facebook posting yesterday morning. Numerous international consultants and Cambodian workers raced against the erratic monsoon to complete the project in time for the government’s deadline. The Techo International Airport will be a crown in the growing list of key infrastructures, from seaports to expressways and bridges in the kingdom, being built to propel Cambodia’s economy. The infrastructure projects aim to transform Cambodia into an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and advance to high-income status by 2050. Additionally, it prepares the kingdom to exit the Least Developed Countries status by 2029. “This (airport) will provide a direct boost to our tourism, transport and manufacturing industries – all critical components of national economic growth. “I am optimistic that more direct flights and better connectivity will enable Cambodia to draw more high-value and business-oriented travellers,” said Darin. – Bernama

“A weaker US dollar now allows Apple to increase prices in the US while maintaining competitive pricing abroad.” – AFP Google to obey South Korea order to blur maps