From the business pages

Nuclear reactors to be built in Asia Nikkei

Thailand and the Philippines are charging ahead with plans to start nuclear reactors by the next decade as momentum grows in South East Asia for the region’s first operational power plant. Thailand is expected to unveil an energy plan in September that will incorporate small modular reactors. Indonesia plans to install 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity by the early 2030s.

French bank payments delayed Les Echos

French workers may need to be patient to see their salary in their account at the end of the month. Bank transfers will be blocked for four days in Europe, from 29 March to 1 April, due to a scheduled closure of a payment system which manages transfers between European banks. French bank officials said most firms would anticipate delays.

South African employment down Business Day

Formal employment in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 194,000 jobs or 1.8 per cent quarter on quarter. The employment statistics survey results released by Stats SA showed total employment in the formal sector dropped from 10.9 million in September to 10.7 million in December. Job losses were recorded in building and mining.

Regenerative coffee guaranteed Valor Econômico

Brazil will guarantee illycaffè’s supply of coffee from regenerative practices in the next decade, said Andrea Illy, boss of the firm. Sustainable cultivation is the key to increasing productivity despite climate change. He is studying plans for an annual $1bn (£790m) fund “for coffee resilience”. Illy wants to renew plantations where farmers are unable to finance the transition to more sustainable production.