Poor Nations to Bear Brunt as World Warms

Wealthy countries are spending far more to limit their own risks from global warming’s consequences than to help the world’s most vulnerable regions. The New York Times

Africa: ICF Secures Extra $40 Million for Projects

The Investment Climate Facility (ICF), a unique fund conceived to help Africa create a more attractive business environment, has increased committed donor funding by 50% from US$80 million in June last year to $120 million today. East African Business Week / http://allafrica.com

Continent So Far Successful to Meet the MDGs - UNECA

Activities undertaken in Africa towards meeting the MDGs during the last seven years have achieved encouraging results, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) said. The Ethiopian Herald / http://allafrica.com

Biocarbon Fund to Benefit Rural Poor

The poorest rural communities of developing countries will be the biggest beneficiaries with the announcement today of the launch of Tranche Two of the World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund.  The organizational meeting of the first participants in Tranche Two took place today in Brussels. The tranche was declared operational after the minimum level of contributions of US$10 million was reached. Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture press release

Continent Develops Common Science And Technology Action Plan

Africa has developed a consolidated action plan on science and technology that integrates the programmes and projects of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) into the structures of the African Union. Southern Africa News Features  / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: Forum to Bond SADC-EU Business And Political Leaders

An independent private sector body created to establish a new kind dialogue between business communities and the political leadership in Europe and southern Africa has been formed. Mmegi / The Reporter / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: U.S. Gov't Confident in Country's Economy

The United States government has expressed confidence in the Ghanaian economy in spite of its ups and downs. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Free Trade Zone - Lagos Signs MoU With Chinese Govt

The Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Government for the development of the Lekki Free Trade Zone. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

Zambia: Nation, EU Commission Seal K300 Billion Budget Support Agreement

The European Commission (EC) has signed a K300 billion agreement with Zambia for a two-year Budget support in poverty reduction and Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) implementation. The Times of Zambia / http://allafrica.com

Liberia: President Adresses Policy Conference

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has urged the government of Canada and the Developed World to direct the bulk of foreign assistance funds toward countries that have embraced democracy, transparency and accountability. Foreign assistance Funds, the President noted, must also be directed towards countries which have overcome their macroeconomic and debt problems and have designed strong poverty reduction programs. Liberia Government / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: Nepad Agric. Programmes Hit $1.5 Billion Investments

Over US$1.5bn investments have already been identified under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Addressing over three hundred agriculture experts and stakeholders attending the CAADP pioneer round table yesterday, the COMESA Assistant Secretary General for programmes, Sindiso Ngwenya underscored the bloc's agriculture trade portfolio accounts for 40%, following the manufacturing sector that accounts for 45%.

Mozambique: Business Still Facing Many Constraints

So far efforts to make the business environment in Mozambique simpler and more constructive for the economy have not met even half the expectations of national and foreign businesses working in the country, warned Salimo Abdula, chairperson of the Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA), on Thursday. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Climate Threat to City Shipping

Cape Town stands to lose as much as two-thirds of its international shipping trade - possibly within the next 20 to 30 years - as Arctic sea-ice continues to melt because of global warming, says a top climate-change scientist. The New Times / http://allafrica.com

Tax revenue boosted by SA growth

South Africa collected R3-billion more in tax revenue than expected during the 2006-07 fiscal year, mostly due to economic growth, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has said. iafrica.com

AU Chair Calls for Pan African Infrastructure Fund

Africa must back the starting up of the Pan African Fund for infrastructure development, Chair of the African Union (AU), Ghanaian President John Kufuor called on his fellow African leaders attending the Algiers summit, BuaNews reported from Algiers on Friday. The Daily Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Ethiopia: Meles Zenawi On GDP and Support for Somalia

Controlling the rapid growth of GDP registered in the past four years is not a viable measure to solve the prevailing inflation as some people think, the government will in fact endeavor to maintain the current trend, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Thursday. The Daily Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Coca-Cola, USAID Move to Expand Water Access

Uganda is one of the few African countries that will benefit from a $7 million joint water investment announced by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Company. East African Business Week / http://allafrica.com

New low-cost vaccine for Africa

Pharmaceutical giant GSK is to begin registering a vaccine for meningitis to be used at low prices in Africa. bbc.co.uk

Ghana: Government Lauds Barclays Leasing Initiative

Government has lauded Barclays Bank's for being responsive to the needs of corporate bodies by taking the lead in the industry to finance leasing in the country. Public Agenda / http://allafrica.com

Mittal prices rise even more

Mittal Steel South Africa, the company found guilty of excessive pricing by the country's competition authorities earlier this week, has announced a price increase of up to 10 percent for certain products. iafrica.com