Sierra Leone's Youth: A Boon for Investment
As Sierra Leone continues to build its nation in the wake of civil war, the youth in the country are a valuable factor in continual improvement.

Shariah in Lawless Somalia
Shariah law comes in different forms, and if Somalia is to adopt a viable version of it, it must be a system that is accountable and takes care of its people.

Book Review: "The Candy Girl"
After a difficult childhood battling polio, Marcella Camara-Macauley studied early childhood education and has now written a children's book whose proceeds go to a worthy cause.

The Emerging Obama Doctrine on Africa
The Obama administration is making it clear to African nations that it intends to play an increasing role in Africa's development and governance.

Public Schools in Sierra Leone Gasping for Life Support
In the war-torn African nation of Sierra Leone, the public school system is crippled, ailing and corrupted by the government, affecting children, teachers and the nation as a whole.

China's Rise in Africa: Miracle or Mirage
Although China's burgeoning economic relationship with Africa is significant, many aspects of China's investment are being distorted and overlooked.

Minister Kanu Resolves Longstanding Corporate Feud
In mediating a resolution involving London Mining, African Minerals and the Government of Sierra Leone, Minister Kanu emerges as the shining star.

Making Roads Safer in Nigeria
Road conditions in Nigeria are horrendous, and the government needs to develop a comprehensive plan of action to keep Nigerians safe on the roadways.

U.S. Should Encourage Democracy in Africa
The United States wishes to respect the will of African people, but the tools of expression can be hard to reach without the declaration and enforcement of U.S. support.

The Youth in Sierra Leone
President Obama's speech in Ghana, directed at all of Africa, aligned with the objectives of the large population of young people in Sierra Leone.

Contemptuousness of Sub-Saharan Africa
The term

Road to Recovery: Provincial Towns in Sierra Leone
After living abroad for over a decade, a native of Sierra Leone returns to his homeland to see the differences incurred by an 11-year civil war.

Somalia, outside the Violence Box
If Somalia is to quell the religious extremism and violence that poisons its society, the government needs to develop a new paradigm of non-violence and cooperation.

Nigeria's Envy
Obama's recent visit to Ghana says much about the country's potential, but it may say even more about the country Obama chose not to visit.

Riot over Egypt football defeat
Police are injured as Egypt fans' anger over reported violence after a World Cup game erupts in Cairo.

Sani Abacha son 'must pay $350m'
A Swiss court orders the seizure of $350m in assets from the son of Nigeria's ex-ruler Sani Abacha after a 10-year investigation.

'Many flee' Congo fishing clashes
More than 50,000 people flee DR Congo amid deadly ethnic clashes over fishing rights in the north-west, the UN says.

Yacht pair plead for ransom talks
A British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates say via video footage that they fear they may be killed within a week.

East Africa in historic trade pact
East African leaders sign a common market trade agreement, allowing the free movement of people and goods.

EU gives Nigeria $1bn 'for peace'
Europe signs a $1bn deal with Nigeria, aimed at tackling corruption and promoting peace in the troubled Niger Delta.

UN condemns SA vineyard attacks
The UN condemns violent attacks against Zimbabweans seeking work in South African vineyards, which has left many homeless.

Sierra Leone police enlist youths
Sierra Leone is to enlist youths as crime-fighting volunteers in the crime-ridden capital, Freetown, police say.

Ethiopia convicts coup plotters
Twenty-six Ethiopians are convicted of plotting a coup, allegedly masterminded by an exiled opposition leader.

Nigeria's leader delays budget because politicians squabble about venue
Nigeria's president postpones his budget - because senators and representatives disagree on which chamber should host it.

Sage, onion... or gold? South African thief tries new chicken stuffing
A South African jewellery firm worker is caught trying to steal gold from his employer by stuffing it in a cooked chicken.

Nations Cup draw
Ghana's FA Chairman declares Group B the Group of death following the draw for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola.

Fifa to probe Egypt over attacks
Fifa begins an investigation after Algerian players were attacked before their World Cup qualifier against Egypt in Cairo last week.

Semenya tests not complete - IAAF
Gender tests on South African athlete Caster Semenya are yet to be completed, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) reveal.

Dangerous seas
Can EU's taskforce defeat pirates off Somalia coast?

In pictures
From football flips to goat migrations in Africa's week

Militants' grip
US Somali youths recruited by homeland radicals

Family affair
Is North Africa succumbing to dynastic rule?

Beefing up
How Botswana is putting more meat on its beef industry

African view
Trust this headline: 'Somali man, 112, weds bride, 17'?

Somalia 'to ratify UN child pact'
Somalia says it will ratify the UN's child rights convention, leaving the US as the only nation not backing the accord.

Mugabe army 'quits diamond field'
Soldiers have started to leave Zimbabwe's diamond fields, a minister says, after warnings from the global trade watchdog.

Hudson to play Winnie Mandela
Hollywood actress Jennifer Hudson will play the controversial ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, Winnie, in a forthcoming film.

US backs Guinea mercenary claim
The US says its has evidence that South African "military trainers" are in Guinea helping the much-criticised ruling junta.

Somali woman stoned for adultery
A 20-year-old woman is stoned to death by Somali Islamists, accused of adultery after giving birth to a still-born baby.

Hijacked tanker's captain 'dies'
The captain of a tanker seized on Monday off the Seychelles has died of his injuries suffered during the attack, Somali pirates say.

Africa population tops a billion
The number of people in Africa has passed the one billion mark, the UN Population Fund says in a report.

Sudan cattle clashes kill dozens
Violence breaks out in southern Sudan, where officials are registering voters for the first full elections in 24 years.

Hard choices in Malawi
Should food or education be Malawi's priority?

Pictures: Sierra Leone recovery
Nick Danziger's photographs of some of the thousands of victims of Sierra Leone's conflict, who say they have not been helped, unlike the fighters who committed atrocities.

Rebels Inc in DR Congo
Is a feared militia based in DR Congo run from Europe?

In pictures: Algeria joy
Algerian joy as win over Egypt secures World Cup place

Super-jumbo flights to seat 840
Budget flights using the world's largest aircraft are planned, carrying up to 840 people on each flight.

Congo gold 'still funding' rebels
A senior UN official tells the BBC sanctions breaking is still rife in DR Congo, with rebels using smuggled gold to fund arms.

Are you ready for Angola?
Friday is the draw for the 2010 Nations Cup. What does holding the event in Angola mean to you?

Do kids add to climate change?
Would you have fewer kids if it helped to reduce climate change?

Do you worry about your weight?
Liberian medical student Tabeh is worried about the increasing rate of obesity and wants us to ask: Are you watching what you eat?

Send us your pictures of Africa
Send in your shots of Africa from shadows to hats

ENERGY-TANZANIA: Charcoal a Dirty Trade-Off
DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 19 (IPS) - The sun is setting slowly over Dar es Salaam's Tabata Changombe neighbourhood. Ameenah and Skukulu Juma lean against the corrugated iron walls of their makeshift charcoal shop.

AFRICA: Growing Use of Cellphones for Family Planning
KAMPALA, Nov 19 (IPS) - The growth of cellphone use, particularly in the developing world, is providing health experts with a new channel of communication to provide family planning information.

Q&A: Recognise the Benefits of Slowing Population Growth
KAMPALA, Nov 19 (IPS) - Family planning: key to reducing child mortality and improving maternal health; a way to put less strain on the environment; and a smaller population makes the challenge of providing adequate education and health services that little bit easier.

SOUTH SUDAN: Media Give Us a Fair Deal - Women
JUBA, South Sudan, Nov 19 (IPS) - The guns have gone silent – except for sporadic conflict in parts of the vast South Sudan region, such as the Eastern Equatoria State. It may not be the absolute end of the conflict in the region, but it is a reason for renewed hope.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Women Central to Adaptation, Mitigation
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Nov 18 (IPS) - Poor women will bear the greatest ‘climate burden’, says the United Nations Population Fund in its 2009 State of the World Population report, released today.

CORRUPTION-SIERRA LEONE: Song Sparks Governance Debate
FREETOWN, Nov 18 (IPS) - Nothing has ever sparked a debate on the state of governance in the country like the song released by one of Sierra Leone’s most popular artists, Emerson Bockarie.

DEVELOPMENT: Climate Change Likely to Increase African Hunger Woes
BERLIN, Nov 18 (IPS) - Africa, the continent already most affected by hunger and food scarcity, is likely to see its woes increased due to climate change and the changing rain patterns it provokes, experts and scientists say.

Q&A: Women Should Be More Than Window Dressing
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 18 (IPS) - Women in developing countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of crisis - be that climate change, food price hikes, the HIV/AIDS pandemic or the global recession. It is becoming more commonplace to hear women's testimony, but are women's voices heard when it comes to deciding on solutions?

TRADE: Kenya Faces Job Losses, Collapsing Sectors in Wake of Doha
GENEVA, Nov 18 (IPS) - The consequences of the Doha Round of trade talks for larger developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa could include job losses and deindustrialisation if a new study forecasting how Kenya is set to be affected is anything to go by.

HEALTH-EGYPT: Over the Top With Anti-Swine Flu Steps
CAIRO, Nov 18 (IPS) - As authorities consider suspending a whole academic year to check the spread of swine flu among school children there is a feeling that measures to contain the H1N1 virus - known to be less dangerous than the one responsible for seasonal flu - are going over the top.

POLITICS: Malawians Demand Local Councils
LILONGWE, Nov 17 (IPS) - In Malawi, local government elections are as rare and endangered as the country’s black rhinoceros.

DR CONGO: Urban Water Supply Needs Attention
KINSHASA, Nov 17 (IPS) - Kinshasa's population needs an estimated 700,000 cubic metres of water per day. The Régie de distribution des eaux (REGIDESO) produces only 425,000 cubic metres - vast neighbourhoods like Kitokimosi and Mpasa receive almost none of this water.

HEALTH-SWAZILAND: On ART Since Birth
NHLANGANO, Swaziland, Nov 16 (IPS) - Seven-year-old Ntombi* frowns after swallowing the tablets her grandmother has given her. The HIV-positive child has contracted multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

WATER-ZAMBIA: Worries Ahead of Flood Season
SHANGOMBO DISTRICT, Zambia, Nov 14 (IPS) - 
The Zambezi is home to the fishing community on Mbeta Island. But after the river rose and swallowed their homes last year, they have learned to fear it as well.

KENYA: Foreigners in Their Homeland
NAIROBI, Nov 14 (IPS) - Resistance to a government scheme to upgrade housing in Nairobi's Kibera slum is enmeshed in economics, history and identity.

Africa: Growing Use of Cellphones for Family Planning
The growth of cellphone use, particularly in the developing world, is providing health experts with a new channel of communication to provide family planning information.

Africa: Industrialization Will Help Africa Fully Join World Economy, Says Ban
Armed conflict, inadequate infrastructure, weak governance, limited financing and technological abilities, and policies that stifle entrepreneurship, limit competition and raise the cost of doing business are hindering the industrialization that Africa needs to fully join the global economy, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.

Kenya: Africa's Biggest Wind Farm Project Runs Into Stormy Weather
Long term lenders behind the massive Lake Turkana Wind Power Project - Kenya's largest green-field wind power scheme - are now asking for a government guarantee to cover the risks in the private-sector funded project.

Tanzania: Charcoal a Dirty Trade-Off
The sun is setting slowly over Dar es Salaam's Tabata Changombe neighbourhood. Ameenah and Skukulu Juma lean against the corrugated iron walls of their makeshift charcoal shop.

East Africa: Kagame in Arusha for EAC Summit
President Paul Kagame yesterday arrived in Arusha, Tanzania for the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) but it was not clear who would take over from him as Chairman of the regional bloc.

Nigeria: GMO Rice - U.S. Suit Confirms Contamination in Country, ERA
THE legal action instituted against Bayer CropScience AG by farmers in the United States for allegedly contaminating their farms with Genetically Modified (GM) rice seeds in 2006 is a further confirmation of the validity of tests carried out on rice samples collected by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) in Nigeria and other West African countries within the same period which showed contamination.

Nigeria: FG Begins Payment of N65,000 Monthly Allowance to Ex-Militants
THE Federal Government has commenced payment of arrears of allowances owed former militants in various camps in the Niger Delta.

Kenya: Piracy Attacks on Grain Vessels Hit Flour Production
A wheat flour shortage looms as Somali pirates hit closer home -- our dinner tables.

Zimbabwe: Mixed Reactions Greet Central Bank Reform Bill
New plans to reform the structure of the Reserve Bank, in order to restrict the powers of Governor Gideon Gono, have been met with mixed reaction; with critics arguing the parliamentary bill will still leave Gono with too much power.

East Africa: It's Dawn of New Era for EA Region
Today marks a major turning point in the history of the revived East African Community.

Africa: Opacity Blamed for Bad Oil Deals in Africa
Campaigners from fifty countries from around the world meeting in Montreal, Canada to strategise on pushing further the frontiers of transparency in oil, gas, and mining industries, have blamed opacity in oil and mineral licensing for the bad deals natural resource-dependent countries are often saddled with.

Nigeria: National Stadium - The Shame of a Nation
Nigeria's poor maintenance culture is public knowledge. So the worry is why it has refused to improve. It shows in every aspect of national life - roads, schools, hospitals and now stadia.

Rwanda: Tigo's Entry Marks a Milestone in Telecoms Sector
Hardly a year since Tigo Rwanda was issued a licence to run as a third mobile operator, the telecom company has announced that it's launching its services to the Rwandan people on Monday next week.

Nigeria: Politics of Sagamu-Benin Road
There could not have been a better way for Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Hassan Lawal and Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to experience what millions of Nigerians pass through daily than their recent trapping, for hours, in a traffic jam on the Benin-Ore Expressway.

South Africa: OECD Predicts Economy to Grow 2,7 Percent Next Year
A TOP think-tank sharply raised its forecasts for the global recovery yesterday, and gave a surprisingly upbeat assessment of SA's economy over the next two years.

South Africa: 'Worst Three Months for Newspapers' As Circulation Dives
DAILY and weekly newspapers have all lost circulation, except for the Afrikaans daily Die Son, and the Zulu daily Isolezwe, according to the third-quarter year-on-year figures released yesterday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).

South Africa: Defiant Armscor CEO Suspended On Full Pay
Armscor CEO Sipho Thomo has been suspended on full pay pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing after defiantly refusing to accede to yet another request by the corporation's board for him to resign.

Zambia: Poverty Levels Go Down
ZAMBIA recorded reduced poverty levels from 80 to 64 percent midway through the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) but the country failed to achieve the target average economic growth rate Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said.

Rwanda: Kagame Meets Group of Investors
President Paul Kagame yesterday met and held talks with a group of investors who are in the country on a two-day visit aimed at identifying different investment opportunities.

Rwanda: 'African Tax Forum' to Address Revenue Challenges
The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) that was launched on Wednesday in Kampala has called for a platform to promote and facilitate mutual cooperation among African tax administrations.

Africa: 'Africa's Economic Dream Can Still Be Realised By 2027'
THE long-held dream of integrating Africa economically is possible despite numerous challenges the continent is facing in its drive towards the creation of the African Economic Community by 2027, economists say.

Kenya: Treasury Must Urgently Release Stimulus Funds
Treasury is emerging as the missing link in the quest for a better livelihood for a huge fraction of Kenyans and accelerated economic growth through bureaucratic red tape.

Kenya: Why Graft Still Thrives
Despite high-sounding pledges, Kenya's war against corruption is yet to record significant gains.

Nigeria: Goje Rues Absence of Standard Stadium in Gombe
Governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje of Gombe State is not happy with the non-availability of a standard stadium in his domain before the commencement of the just concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Ghana: Golden Star Pays U.S.$8 Million Royalties to Govt in 2009
Golden Star Resources Ghana Limited announced on Thursday, November 12, this year, that during the third quarter of 2009, it paid US$3,127,398.42 in royalties to the Government of Ghana, out of production from the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa Mines.

Ghana: Osafo Maafo Lauds Re-Introduction of Rice Importation Taxes
A former Finance Minister in the previous administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo has lauded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government's decision to re-introduce the duty tax on importation of rice and other staple foods into the country. He has, however, cautioned the government to support local production to avert possible shortages.

Zimbabwe: Profit Takers Descend on Equities
The strong rally witnessed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in the previous week immediately came under a check during the week ended yesterday, as investors descended on the high yielding investment market to pocket gains reaped in the preceding week that saw the market awarding the highest weekly return to investors since the beginning of the year.

Zimbabwe: Disposal of Ariston Costs Delta
DELTA Corporation Limited, Zimbabwe's prime producer and distributor of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, has suffered a US$2 million impairment from the disposal of its 30 percent stake in Ariston Holdings Limited at US$4 million.

Zimbabwe: Boardroom Wrangle Erupts at Aico
HAPPYMORE Mapara, the group chief executive officer (CEO) of AICO Africa Limited was this week sent on suspension pending investigations into the operations of the company after falling out with key shareholders at the Zimbabwe Stock Exch-ange (ZSE)-listed conglomerate.

Zimbabwe: London Firm Snaps Up Chrome Mine
Chromex Mining Plc, which is listed on the London bourse's Alternative Investment Market (AIM), has sealed a purchase deal for a 49 percent stake in Zimbabwean chrome miners Falvect Mining, for what it described as "a nominal consideration".

Africa must prioritize on education - UNESCO
The Director of UNESCO's Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA), Ann Therese Ndong Jatta, called for a dialogue on matters relating to early childhood development has called African governments to review their expenditure patterns to ensuring that they are directed on areas of priority. The BREDA director who was speaking at a press conference…

South Africa: Floods to hit Johannesburg
The Johannesburg Emergency Services has warned that there is a strong possibility of floods following the rainy week. A hotline has therefor been set for cases that would require emergency attention. Areas at risk were those around the Klipriver system in Soweto, areas between the West Rand's river system and the northern suburbs, including Dainfern,…

EU supports Nigeria to fight corruption
Nigeria signed a 677 million euro pact with the European Union on Thursday aimed at combating corruption and promoting peace in its troubled, oil-producing Niger Delta region. The agreement will help the oil exporter to tackle challenges in the areas of governance, trade and peace for the 2009-2013 period, the European Commission said in a statement,…

Pirates release a Panamanian-flagged ship
Somali pirates have released a Panamanian-flagged ship with 18 crew members after talks with Somali businessmen in the war-torn country's capital, one of the businessmen said on Thursday. Ali Dheere, the chairman of Mogadishu's general merchanside traders, told Reuters that the negotiations Wednesday ended night, while the ship was released…

Malawi: Foreign trips for civil servants reduced
President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi Wednesday banned public officers from foreign trips that goes beyond six times. Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Bright Msaka added the president also directed that each foreign trip should not exceed 14 days - aspiring to advance sensible utilisation of the government pulse, a statement said. "His…

Libya: Lockerbie bomber asked back to jail
The Libyan man, Abdul Al-Megrahi, behind the 1988 bombing of a United States plane over Lockerbie, Scotland, who was released because he had less than three months to die, is still very much alive at the end of his third month of freedom but friends and families of victims want him back to jail. Al-Megrahi, 57, was set free on a compassionate ground…

Matchday in Algiers: Tense day ends with climax
The tension rose to high levels in Algiers yesterday while everyone was preparing for the decisive World Cup qualifier match against Egypt. The game was played in Khartoum, Sudan, and the whole nation saw on televsion how Algeria beat the 'Pharaos' with 1-0. Algeria will compete during the World Cup in South Africa next year. The last time…

Gov’ts urged to prioritize women’s rights
The deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Commission for Africa, Lalla Ben Barka, has urged governments and the rest of the international community to prioritize achievements of gender equality and women' rights as these are essential in the crusade of poverty reduction and the promotion of growth. She was addressing the 8th African…

Somali woman stoned to death
Islamist hardliners in Somalia have stoned a Somali woman to death for adultery on Tuesday, stated officials on Wednesday. Halima Ibrahim Abdurrahman, 20, was killed in front of hundreds of people, mostly women and children, in the town of Wajid, 250 miles (400km) north-west of the capital, Mogadishu. Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Abdirahman, a judge for…

Egypt: Two Christians condemned to death
Two men believed to be Christians have been sentenced to death in Egypt for killing a Muslim man who married one of their relatives. Rami and Raafat Khella, the brother and uncle of Mariam Atef Khella, stormed her home in Cairo last year and opened fire on her husband, Ahmed Sallah. Khella, who was a Christian, got converted to Islam three years earlier…

SA: Mbeki faces prosecution pressure
South Africa former president Thabo Mbeki must be prosecuted for HIV/AIDS related deaths, stated Buti Manamela, the president of the Young Communist League (YCL). Manamela said it sided with victims rather than critics of the proposed court action as the Mbeki policies were tantamount to have caused genocide. However the ANC youth league has vehemently…

Somalia: Bomb blast injures five
A bomb explosion in North Galka'yo town of semi-autonomous town of Puntland in northeastern Somalia wounded five people on Wednesday night, causing unrest in a relatively calm neighborhood. A Puntland police officer was among the wounded, a local journalist who pleaded anonymity told AfricaNews on Thursday. No group has claimed responsibility…

SA: More new freeways by 2013
South Africa's largest road transportation project, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), may see new freeways being added to the network as soon as 2013. Currently the GFIP is in its first phase, which is over 33% complete. This R15.1-billion (¤1.4-billion) phase will see upgrades, including lane widening, better interchanges and improved…

SA: Gautrain may run for 2010
South Africa's most ambitious rail project, the R25.4-billion (¤2.3-billion) Gautrain rapid-rail link, may be able to offer services in time for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, according to the company responsible for the project. Earlier, the Bombela Concession Company said they are willing to accelerate the project by three weeks at a cost of R1.3-billion…

Nigeria: Shell raises road safety awareness
Flashes of real and artistic photographs will be used to show the importance of road safety consciousness among motorists. Drivers' Dexterity, an exhibition that is supported by Shell Development Corporation, is meant to reinforce the message of safety for road users. The exhibition will depict hazards of road travel in Nigeria; it will feature…

Today is World Toilet Day
Over 35% of the entire world population does not have proper access to toilet facilities with most of them living in Africa, estimated the World Toilet Organization. It is celebrating World Toilet Day today under the theme: "Toilets for All". The day is to raise awareness about the importance of proper toilet facilities. World Toilet Day…

Somalia: Pirates clash over $3.3m ransom
Some Somali pirates clashed in the Harardhere town of the Mudug province - their stronghold - over a US$ 3.3 million alleged ransom paid them for releasing a Spanish ship and its 36-member crew, residents told AfricaNews. They freed the Alakrana fishing vessel on Tuesday night. Two of the brigands were injured during the clash, local media reports…

Photo series: Giant billboards beautify Accra
Giant billboards are sprouting on the streets of Accra - the capital of Ghana. They have moved from their core function of advertisement to adding colour and beauty to the semi-high rising office complexes in the city. The billboards come in different shapes and design. Their artistic nature has the touch of a modern décor. The pretty ladies and handsome…

Somalia: Pirates hijack Korean tanker
Somali pirates have hijacked a North Korean tanker with 28 crew on board in the south Somali basin, some 180 miles northwest of Seychelles. The EU's naval forces have reported in statement that MV Therese VIII, a Singaporean-operated tanker, was seized on Monday by Somali pirates, while heading for Mombasa port in Kenya. The MV Theresa VIII,…

Nigeria: OBJ laments poor road maintenance
Poor road maintenance has been identified as one factor that slows down commerce and development of small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria. Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the poor state of a chunk of the federal roads in Nigeria must be addressed as a matter of urgency. “What exactly is the problem with our roads?…

Industrialization will help Africa fully join world economy, says Ban
Armed conflict, inadequate infrastructure, weak governance, limited financing and technological abilities, and policies that stifle entrepreneurship, limit competition and raise the cost of doing business are hindering the industrialization that Africa needs to fully join the global economy, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.

Xenophobic attacks in South Africa draw condemnation from UN agency
The United Nations refugee agency today condemned the latest xenophobic attacks that have driven some 3,000 foreigners, including refugees and asylum-seekers from Zimbabwe, from a community in South Africa.

Kenyan youth shoot for peace in UN-backed football ‘reconciliation contest'
More than 2,000 Kenyan youths from across Nairobi, the capital, will kick off a multi-ethnic football tournament this weekend to score goals in a United Nations-backed bid to use the power of sport to promote reconciliation after last year's deadly inter-communal violence as well as environmental conservation.

Libya and UN agency enter pact to boost food security, sustainable development
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Libya have agreed on a $71 million programme to boost cooperation over the next five years to strengthen food security and sustainable development in the country.

India's all-female UN police unit serves as inspiration for Liberian women
Liberian girls and women should draw inspiration from the all-female Indian police unit serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to join law enforcement agencies in the service of their own nation, the top UN official in the West African country said today.

Spain doubles aid for UN food operation in Horn of Africa
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) received a boost today for its emergency relief efforts feeding millions of hungry people in the Horn of Africa, with the announcement of a $112 million donation from Spain.

Leaders of Rwandan rebel militia arrested for atrocities committed in DR Congo - UN
The top United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today welcomed the arrest of two leaders of a rebel Rwandan militia on suspicion of carrying out crimes against humanity and war crimes in the eastern region of the DRC.

UN blue helmets help passengers in DR Congo when plane overshoots runway
United Nations peacekeepers helped passengers and provided emergency medical treatment today after an airliner with 117 passengers on board over-ran the airstrip in Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Cambodian troops arrive to bolster UN force in Chad, Central African Republic
The United Nations mission set up to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid in Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) received a boost this week with the arrival of troops from Cambodia.

Industrial development key to Africa's integration into global economy - UN official
The head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) warned today that Africa must overcome the obstacles to boosting industrial production and gaining a larger share of world trade to benefit from the global economy.