News Overview
Foreign visitors to South Africa surge in 2010
Friday, 03 September 2010
Foreign visitors to South Africa had risen by more than 350 000 for the first four months of this year as compared to the same period in 2009, according to South African Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Ivory Coast commission produces final voter list
Friday, 03 September 2010
Ivory Coast's electoral commission said on Thursday it had produced a final voter list for the first time, raising the chance that an election which has been delayed six times in five years might go ahead.
Experimental Novartis drug shows malaria promise
Friday, 03 September 2010
An experimental Novartis drug can clear malaria infection in mice with a single dose and scientists say it shows promise as a possible future treatment for one of the world's major killer diseases.
Senior UN official sees progress in Somalia
Friday, 03 September 2010
The twin-pronged political and peacekeeping approach to ending almost two decades of civil war in Somalia is beginning to pay dividends, a senior United Nations official said on Thursday.
Rwanda tackles top killer of children
Friday, 03 September 2010
For more than a year now, Rwanda has been immunizing its children against pneumonia. Its goal is to save the lives of 6,000 kids every year. This week, health officials and others are checking on the program's progress.
Pneumonia is the leading
Mainstream U.S. media criticized for ignoring positive developments in Africa
Thursday, 02 September 2010
The president and CEO of the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa has told VOA that important stories about Africa continue to feature less prominently in mainstream American media outlets.
Nigeria embarks on vast free trade zone with China
Thursday, 02 September 2010
Nigeria is building a multi-billion dollar free trade zone with Chinese investors on the edge of its commercial capital Lagos to try to develop a local manufacturing base and help reduce its import dependence.
South Africa plans new high speed rail projects
Thursday, 02 September 2010
The South African Department of Transport says it is working on a massive rail investment programme to improve the country's aging rail network.
Rwandans receive free legal aid
Thursday, 02 September 2010
The Rwanda Legal Aid Project is a four-year initiative managed by the group Lawyers without Borders (Avocats sans Frontieres). The project is designed to give free legal advice from professional Rwandan lawyers to vulnerable Rwandans.
African agricultural finance under the spotlight
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Africa is turning into a fashionable post-crisis investment destination as investors regain their confidence and start to focus on the continent's lack of direct involvement with the global market's volatility drivers and trouble hotspots.
Ghana to reach 1 mln tonnes cocoa output next season
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Ghana, the world's second-largest cocoa grower, could reach its target of producing 1 million tonnes of the main ingredient in chocolate next season - a year ahead of schedule - a senior official said on Tuesday.
Financiers bid to handle Nigeria power privatisation
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Nigeria plans to privatise 18 power distribution and generation firms by the end of May and has received bids from six financial consultants interested in handling the process, the privatisation agency said on Tuesday.
UN agency hails move to protect African folklore and traditional knowledge
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
The United Nations agency charged with protecting intellectual property worldwide has welcomed the adoption by a number of African States of a new legal instrument that seeks to protect the continent's traditional knowledge and folklore.
Gabon to host African environment ministers for biodiversity conference
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Gabon will host the first African High-Level Conference on Biodiversity from 12-17 September 2010 to formulate a common African position ahead of a UN biodiversity conference in New York at the end of September.
IFC sub Saharan Africa 2010 investments up a third
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
The World Bank's investment arm on Tuesday said its investments in sub Saharan Africa rose by a third to $2.4 billion in its 2010 fiscal year and forecast further growth this year.
Eritrea-Ethiopia: Refugees embrace life "out of camps"
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Kibrom Sebhatu, 45, is among hundreds of Eritreans expected to benefit from a recent Ethiopian government ruling allowing Eritrean refugees to live outside the camps.
Railway to boost Malawi, Zambia trade
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique stand to effectively benefit from the newly commissioned railway line linking Chipata and Mchinji, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika said.
Vodacom, Nedbank launch mobile cash service
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
South Africa's largest mobile phone group Vodacom is teaming up with Nedbank to deliver a phone-based cash transfer service, similar to a successful service operating in Kenya.
Red hot Rudisha lowers 800m world record
Monday, 30 August 2010
Kenya's David Rudisha lowered the 800 metres world record to 1 minute 41.01 at a meeting in Rieti in Italy on Sunday, just a week after first breaking the record.
Jubilant Kenyans usher in new constitution
Monday, 30 August 2010
Cheered by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Kenyans waving national flags, President Mwai Kibaki signed a new constitution on Friday that curbs his sweeping powers and strengthens civic rights.
Standard Bank plans $100 mln farmers' funding
Monday, 30 August 2010
Standard Bank will provide $100 million to farmers in four African countries in the next three years to help boost agricultural production and economic growth, CEO for Africa Clive Tasker said on Friday.
Niger avoids "worst" in food crisis, government says
Monday, 30 August 2010
Niger will avoid the "worst" in its most severe food crisis since 2005 with aid reaching millions left hungry by last year's failed harvest, the government said.
World Bank, US to fund Tanzanian power projects
Monday, 30 August 2010
The World Bank will lend Tanzania $150 million for a new power transmission project expected to improve the availability of electricity in mining regions. The US announced last week that it will provide financing of $45 million for a power project