UN Upbeat As FDI in Africa Jumps 65%

The United Nations (UN) expects African countries to produce economic growth of 5,5% this year, following a year in which there was a 65% leap in the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the continent. Business Day / http://allafrica.com.

Gates gives $600m more to stop TB

Microsoft's Bill Gates triples his funding, to $900m, of a new UK and Nigerian-backed plan to stop TB.  BBC.

New brand to help Africa  

Rock star Bono and four firms launch a new global brand, with a share of profits going to fight Aids in Africa. BBC.

Leaders Meet to Change Continent's Image

African leaders, meeting in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, are seeking ways to improve their continent's image by ridding it of conflicts, diseases, poverty and human rights abuses. Inter Press Service / http://allafrica.com.

Russia Extends G8 Invitations

Russia said on Monday that it had invited India, China, Brazil and South Africa to attend a meeting of Group of Eight finance ministers in Moscow next month after having previously said they would probably be left out. The Moscow Times / Google News.

Undersea Cable to Go Live a Year Late

A $200m undersea cable promising a massive improvement in the quality and cost of African telecommunications will go live only by the end of next year, or a year later than hoped. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Poor Nations Lose $700bn Yearly to Unfair Trade Rule – UN

A United Nations (UN) report has indicated that an estimated $700billion is lost annually by indigent nations due to unfair trade rules. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

African economies under threat

Although relatively high rates of growth over the past five years had confirmed that African economies were recovering, threats still remained, a United Nations report has found. iAfrica.com.

ILO Director-General Warns of 'Unprecedented Jobs Crisis'

The world is facing an "unprecedented global jobs crisis of mammoth proportions", the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) said today in a statement issued for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place here. International Labour Organisation / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Oil-Rich Niger Delta Faces 'Shocking' New Wave of Violence

Foreign oil companies accustomed to high tension in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta are being forced to grapple with a new level of violence one industry official called "shocking." UN Integrated Regional Information Networks / http://allafrica.com.

Sudan: Country Joins Peer Review Mechanism

The general secretary of NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development), Firmino Mucavele, declared on Sunday that Sudan's decision to join the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has created an opportunity for Africans to assess from within the problems of the largest country on the continent and help solve them. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com.

South Africa: Cabinet fine tunes growth bid

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's economic growth strategy will take shape this week, when it tops the agenda of a cabinet lekgotla that gets under way on Wednesday. iAfrica.com.

South Africa: Economy masking effects of HIV

The current bullish economy might lull the private sector into under-estimating the effects of HIV/Aids on their workforce, the SA Business Coalition on HIV/Aids said on Friday. iAfrica.com.

Uganda: Govt to Build Call Centres

The Government has hired InterGlobal Services, an American company, to build and operate the first call centres. New Vision / http://allafrica.com.

Kenya: CEOs Have Confidence in Kenya's Economy, Says Poll

A Steadman poll has given a high rating of 64 points to investor confidence in Kenya despite heightened political temperatures in the country. The East African Standard / http://allafrica.com.

South Africa is Still Biggest Foreign Investor in Mozambique

South Africa has clinched its position as the single largest foreign investor in Mozambique by doubling its direct investment over the past year. Bua News / http://allafrica.com.

Old Mutual seals deal for Skandia

Insurer Old Mutual closes its deal for rival Skandia after winning support for its bid from 72% of Skandia's investors. BBC.

Drug Giant Seeks to Ensure Local ARV Availability

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is to help African firms produce generic versions of its second-line anti-AIDS drug, Saquinavir, as part of its Technology Transfer Initiative. UN Integrated Regional Information Networks / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Youth Fund Aims to Help More Start-Ups

About 12000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been funded by the Umsobomvu Youth Fund since its inception five years ago, CEO Malosi Kekana said on Friday. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Telkom Considers Expansion Into Botswana

Faced with tough competition from cellphone operators at home, fixed-line operator Telkom has added Botswana to a list of five African countries it considers ripe for investment -- in its bid to seek new sources of revenue. Business Day / http://allafrica.com.