Blair promises new Africa focus

Tony Blair announces a series of initiatives to ensure that pledges on aid and debt relief to Africa are honoured. BBC

Africa poverty progress questions

The world's richest countries need to do more in the global fight against poverty in Africa, Bob Geldof says. BBC

U.S. Seeking New Trade Pacts With Africa

After calling off negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with five Southern African countries last month, the US has indicated its intentions to negotiate new trade arrangements with several African countries including Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique and Ghana. The East African / http://allafrica.com

Let's Not Allow Nepad to Die

Barely five years after its formation, a key architect of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) has sounded its death-knell. There are those who might feel vindicated by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's sentiments and hail him for his honesty. But others might be tempted to dismiss him as a victim of Afro-pessimism, an entrenched notion which posits that nothing good can come out of Africa. The Nation / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Ratings Upgrade From Fitch May Be On Cards If SA Passes 'Stress Test'

International rating agency Fitch Ratings is watching to see how SA gets through the "stress test" of current global market volatility before it can consider a change to SA's ratings outlook. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Oil Level 8 Times Higher Than Expected

Years of oil exploration are promising good results. Uganda's petroleum deposits are far in excess of what the exploration companies had expected to find. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Obasanjo Elated As Nigeria is Removed from Finance Blacklist

President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his elation at the announcement of Nigeria's removal from the International Financial Task Force's (FATF) list of Non-Cooperating Countries and Territories. Nigeria First / http://allafrica.com

Kenya: President Comes Face to Face With His Peers At the African Summit

Leaders from 26 countries to evaluate Kenya's performance on key governance issues as part of a Nepad initiative to improve the quality of life for people on the continent. The Nation / http://allafrica.com

Zimbabwe: Govt Inertia On Economy Riles Private Sector

Representatives of the private sector in the National Economic Recovery Council (NERC) are increasingly becoming agitated by what they see as government's insincerity and lack of commitment to reverse Zimbabwe's worsening seven-year economic crisis. Financial Gazette / http://allafrica.com

Mozambique: Still No 24 Hour Opening of Border

Despite a summit meeting in Maputo on Thursday between Mozambican and South African presidents Armando Guebuza and Thabo Mbeki, there is still no agreement on 24 hour opening of the main border post between the two countries, as demanded by businesses that want to use the Maputo Development Corridor which links the South African provinces of Mpumulanga and Gauteng to Maputo port. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com

Mauritius: Employment and Growth As Main Targets in New Budget

The first budget of the new Government was awaited with much apprehension and anxiety for a number of reasons. It came at a time when all the indicators are in the red and the sick patient is almost waiting for drastic surgery. It came at a time when we are still dazed by the triple shocks leaving little room for manoeuvre. It came after a time when certain popular decisions that did not necessarily have a sound economic rationale were taken but which did have an impact on the national budget. It came after a long time of atypical silence on the part of the Minister of Finance. L'Express / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Agriculture Gains in Budget

Twenty million Ugandans live in rural areas, with 98% of these depending on agriculture, according to the recent national budget by the Finance Minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma. New Vision / http://allafrica.com

Mittal 'won't sell' SA stake

The world's largest steel group Mittal Steel on Monday denied that it would sell its 52 percent stake in Mittal Steel South Africa as part of the deal to merge with world's second largest steel maker Arcelor. iAfrica.com

Branson launches Virgin credit card

Sir Richard Branson on Monday launched the Virgin Money Credit Card, predicting that it would lead to the biggest shake-up ever in the South African credit card market. iAfrica.com

Nigeria: 'Virgin Nigeria to Begin Lagos-New York Route'

The chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airline, Sir Richard Branson has assured Nigerian travelers that Virgin Nigeria would soon get the right to operate the lucrative Lagos -New York route, saying the approval given by the Nigerian Government to an American airline to begin operations on the US-Lagos route may facilitate that. Daily Trust / http://allafrica.com

Ethiopia: Starbucks Plans to Triple Coffee Purchases

Starbucks, one of the major global players in the coffee industry, announced plans to triple the volume of coffee beans it buys from Ethiopia and the other coffee producing African countries beginning the 2007 season year, informed sources told The Daily Monitor on Wednesday The coffee giant has also pledged to pay prices better than the conventional markets offer for the beans it purchases, provided that the transactions confirm to transparent practices while traded locally. The Daily Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: USAID Pushes for Rural Mobile Banks

Banking institutions have been urged to start rural mobile banking services to attract more people into the banking industry and help the country instil a savings culture; much lacking in Uganda. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Namibia: BP Fuels Polio Drive

In order to make the second round of the mass polio vaccination even more effective in terms of reaching remote areas, the Namibia Red Cross Society this week received N$5 000 worth of fuel vouchers for the donated 14 vehicles to be used in fighting polio. New Era / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Business Leaders to Mentor Top Students

After weeks of intense deliberation, South Africa's top 100 brightest young students were announced this week by non-profit initiative Brightest Young Minds (BYM). Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com

Mozambique: Mozambican Beer Launched in London

Mozambique's prize-winning beer Laurentina was launched in London on Friday at an event hosted by Mozambican High Commissioner Antonio Gumende. This puts Laurentina alongside the Nigerian version of Guinness and the South African Castle brand as among the few African beers sold in Britain. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com