World Bank's record $3.5bn pledge

The World Bank has promised to contribute a record $3.5bn (£1.7bn) to help the world's poorest countries. bbc.co.uk

Mauritius tops Africa best business rankings - report

Mauritius has overtaken South Africa as the easiest African nation in which to do business in a World Bank global ranking. africa.reuters.com

African leaders accuse Brown of 'arm-twisting'

Gordon Brown faces a diplomatic row over his decision to boycott a major summit between European and African leaders if Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is allowed to attend. news.independent.co.uk / http://meltwaternews.com

EU urges signing of trade deals

EU trade chief Peter Mandelson says Europe's ex-colonies could miss out if they do not sign new trade deals. bbc.co.uk

Sarkozy's Africa policy shift

Nicolas Sarkozy took over the French presidency promising change - he as far as France's relationships with Africa are concerned, any change is likely to be gradual. bbc.co.uk

Continent Trails in Savings Rate - Unctad

The 2007 UNCTAD report entitled: 'Reclaiming Policy Space Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Developmental States' has revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest savings rate of all developing regions in the world. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Aid Critical To Ensuring Benefits From Trade

While developing and industrialized countries continue to wrestle in the Doha Round of negotiations to reach a new international trade agreement, there is increasing recognition that even if there was free trade between nations, many countries simply do not have the basic infrastructure needed to take advantage of it. http://allafrica.com

As Prices Soar, U.S. Food Aid Buys Less

Higher prices, partly due to demand for ethanol made from corn, have helped slash American food aid to its lowest level in a decade. nytimes.com

China, India outpace Europe in Africa trade - Senegal's Wade

Europe is lagging behind Asian economic powers China and India in the race to snap up trade and investment deals in resource-rich Africa, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said. africa.reuters.com

'$100 laptop' to sell to public

Computer enthusiasts in the developed world will soon be able to get their hands on the so-called "$100 laptop". bbc.co.uk

Rwanda 'most improved' in Africa

Rwanda is sub-Saharan Africa's most improved nation according to a survey promoting good governance. bbc.co.uk

IMF backs Zambia on raising mineral royalty

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has backed Zambia's plans to raise mineral royalty to 3.0 percent from 0.6 percent and urged the government to limit its external commercial borrowing, a senior Fund official said. africa.reuters.com

West Africa: Trade With EU Declines

West Africa's share of trade with the European Union (EU) has declined significantly from 5% in 1980 to 1% today, the First Councellor of the Delegation of the European Commission to Ghana, Dr. Dick Naezer, has said. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: More Rural Business Centres

Over 500,000 people in Ghana's rural and peri-urban communities are benefiting from the establishment of about 69 Rural Business Centres (RBCs) aimed at connecting the communities to the outside world and also to educate them on the uses and benefits of ICTs. Highway Africa News Agency / http://allafrica.com

Zimbabwe: Foreign Businesses to Locals

A new law decrees that majority ownership of all businesses be gradually transferred to so-called indigenous citizens. nytimes.com

East Africa: EAC Plan One-Stop Border Post Bid

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda have resumed a project to share a common inter-state One-Stop-Border Post facility (OSBP) within the East African Community (EAC). East African Business Week / http://allafrica.com

Zambia: Indicators Are There for Everyone to See

In as far as economic management is concerned, it cannot be denied that the current Government has performed to the highest expectations. Within a period of seven months, Zambia's inflation rate has reverted to single digits. The Times of Zambia / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: UN, Microsoft Pledge Software Development Support

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the government of Uganda and Microsoft have signed a letter of intent pledging to set up a local economic growth software centre within twelve months and a software development programme for the country. Highway Africa News Agency / http://allafrica.com

Hewlett Packard to aid Africa's e-waste battle

Hewlett-Packard has launched a project to help local African enterprises perform safer and more effective electronic waste recycling..."We hope that this initial analysis will enable us to create a widespread public private partnership that will not only improve health and environmental standards, but also help disadvantaged communities by promoting skills and creating jobs," said Klaus Hieronymi, of HP's Environment Business Management Organisation. scidev.net / http://business-humanrights.org

MDL to invest $300 mln in gold, zircon in Senegal

Australia's Mining Deposits Limited will invest more than $300 million in two concessions to mine gold and zircon in Senegal, its representative in the West African country said on Friday. africa.reuters.com