Sunday, September 30, 2012

John Sentamu snubbed - may not become next Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of York., Dr. John Sentamu. PHOTO/Antony Njuguna/Reuters

Ugandan-born John Sentamu, the charismatic Archbishop of York, appears to have been snubbed in the hunt for a successor to Rowan Williams, amid claims that church leaders are in "deadlock" and could take months to nominate a new Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Crown Nominations Commission was expected to name the successor to Rowan Williams next week but is yet to choose a candidate after having deliberated for three

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Profile: Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones founder and CEO of "The Black Farmer®"

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones founder and CEO of "The Black Farmer®" range of products.

Emmanuel-Jones was born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, moved to Britain at the age of four and grew up in a deprived inner-city neighborhood in the city of Birmingham is a farmer, businessman and politician.

Emmanuel-Jones has against all odds, with grit, hard work and perseverance grown The Black Farmer® into a multi-million dollar business which is now a national brand in

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Election 2012: Obama looking more likely to win 2nd term

U.S. President Barack Obama, (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/AP

Five weeks to U.S. Election Day, President Barack Obama is within reach of the 270 electoral votes needed to win a second term, while Republican Mitt Romney's path to victory is narrowing, polls suggest.

To overtake Obama, Romney would need to quickly gain the upper hand in nearly all of the nine states where he and Obama are competing the hardest.

Polls show the president with a steady lead

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Kenya: al-Shabaab terrorists suspected in Sunday school attack that kills 1 child

The acting police chief in the capital of Kenya (Nairobi), says an explosive device set off in a Sunday school class killed one child and seriously wounded three.

Moses Ombati said he suspects sympathizers with the Somali Islamist militant group al-Shabaab were behind the attack at an Anglican church.

Kenya has seen a series of attacks on churches ever since Kenyan forces moved into Somalia to join African Union troops to dislodge the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabaab last

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Better to be 1st Among the Gauls Than 2nd Among the Romans

By Ryan Elcock

Between 58 to 51 BC, as he was successfully bringing the Gauls under the Roman Empire, Julius Caesar is said to have remarked to a traveling companion that it was, indeed, ‘better to be first among the Gauls than second among the Romans.’ Just as there are interpretations galore to the Roman Emperor’s quixotic statement, the dictum may have been about the ego; that unquenchable penchant for breaking new ground, where one never sells their soul for praise - the sojourn

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

The State of ICT in Black Societies

By Emmanuel Musaazi

According to the World Bank Group’s 2012 – 2015 strategy for the Information and Communication Technology [ICT] sector, these new developments in telecommunications, in e-commerce and basic exchange of ideas can help reduce poverty, boost economic growth and improve accountability and governance. In simple terms, the world will only do better if it is ensconced in mobile phone applications, in Internet attributes like Twitter and Facebook and a myriad of other

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National Voter Registration Day: “Silent No More” vote program launched to engage African American voters

African American voters. PHOTO/John Gress/Getty Images

Throughout Milwaukee voter registration events were held on Tuesday, September 25 in recognition of National Voter Registration day. Members of the African American Civic Engagement Roundtable joined thousands of community organizations across the country participating in National Voter Registration Day. After a brief media conference, participants registered voters and collected voter pledge cards at community health centers, check

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Twenty20 Cricket: West Indies fall to Sri Lanka

(BBC) - Sri Lanka are on the brink of the World Twenty20 semi-finals after beating the West Indies by nine wickets to go top of their Super Eights group.

The Windies limped to 20-2 in the six-over and only posted 129-5.

Spinner Ajantha Mendis was the pick of the home side’s bowlers as he finished with figures of 2-16.

The run chase was turned into a procession by Mahela Jayawardene (65) and Kumar Sangakkara (39), who put on 108 to wrap up an easy victory.

The veteran duo were

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Business hub to nurture green technologies and entrepreneurship launched in Kenya

A new business hub for African climate technology entrepreneurs was launched in Nairobi (Kenya) this past week to boost locally sourced green technologies in the Africa region.

The Kenya Climate Innovation Center (CIC), a cutting-edge facility, will offer financing and other services to a growing network of climate innovators and entrepreneurs. The first of its kind in the world, it is expected to support up to 70 sustainable climate technology ventures in the first five years, and is

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Twenty20 Cricket: West Indies wins toss - to bat against Sri Lanka

West Indies won the toss and elected to bat against hosts Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 Super Eight tie at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here Saturday.

Teams:

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Dwyane Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy (Captain), Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (Captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru

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Nigeria: Qatar Airways flight lands safely in Lagos after landing gear problem

A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Lagos landed safely after declaring an emergency over a problem with its landing gear, said an emergency response official.

The Airbus A330 aircraft landed safely just after 1 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) with no injuries, said Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the emergency management director for Lagos state.

Harold Demuren, director-general of the Nigeria Federal Civil Aviation Authority, told The Associated Press that the flight Saturday declared an emergency

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Election 2012: Obama keeps fundraising while preparing for debates

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

President Barack Obama warned Democrats about becoming too complacent with six weeks left before the election. He joked that Democrats tend to believe that the “sky is falling” or that “everything is great.”

“This is going to be a close race right down to the wire,” he told about 90 donors gathered Friday evening at the Washington home of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Cash strapped LIAT cuts back on Grenada flights

The regional airline, Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT), Friday announced changes to its flight schedule to and from Grenada where it faces possible industrial action by employees demanding the payment of EC$ 1 million (US$ 370,000) by the end of this month as part of the outstanding EC$ 5 million (US$ 1.85 million) in arrears to them.

The workers have been on a strict work to rule and are backing their bargaining agent - the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) – which wrote

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Lewis Hamilton moves to Mercedes - replaces Michael Schumacher

Lewis Hamilton (l) replaces Michael Schumacher at Mercedes. PHOTO/SkySports News

Lewis Hamilton is moving to Mercedes, replacing seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher in a major shakeup that also saw Sergio Perez sign with McLaren.

Hamilton has been at McLaren throughout his F1 career but the British team had been unwilling to match a lucrative offer from Mercedes, where he will team with Nico Rosberg next season on a three-year contract.

The deal, which had been rumored

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Twenty20 cricket: West Indies beats England

Chris Gayle of the West Indies in action against England. PHOTO/Reuters

West Indies beat out defending champions England by 15 runs.

England came close with Eoin Morgan (71 not out) and Alex Hales (68) putting on a resolute 107-run partnership for the fourth wicket but in the end they fell short to the West Indies.

England needed 125 runs in their last 10 overs but Morgan and Hales paced the innings well before Marlon Samuels bowled an excellent last over, conceding only eight

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Election 2012: Obama campaign using voter registration to win North Carolina

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

Dozens of volunteers armed with clipboards and voter registration forms gather at President Barack Obama’s field office here every day. Their mission: Fan out across the city seeking new voters in this rapidly growing state.

“Are you registered to vote at your current address?” asks Douglas Johnston, a volunteer wooing voters outside the county courthouse. “Do you know about early

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Somalia: Last stronghold of al-Shabaab militants falls to African Union troops

Kenyan troops invaded the al-Qaida affiliated al-Shabaab's last stronghold in Somalia, coming ashore in a predawn assault Friday. Other African Union forces were traveling overland to link up with the Kenyan forces in the port city of Kismayu.

Col. Cyrus Oguna, the Kenyan military's top spokesman, said the surprise attack met minimal resistance but al-Shabaab denied that the city had fallen and said fighting was taking place. Oguna said that al-Shabaab has incurred "heavy losses" but

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Profile: Wilfred Sam-King - An African entrepreneur who simply won't quit

Wilfred Sam-King founder and CEO Sam-King Group

Wilfred Sam-King is the founder and CEO of the Sam-King Group, which he founded in 1998 IN Sierra Leone.

By the age of 33, Wilfred Sam-King had earned and lost a fortune three times over. Each time he built a business from nothing, he saw it looted or torched in a coup or a rebel invasion.

When rebels laid siege to Freetown in 1999, they searched everywhere for Sierra Leone’s famed businessman, aiming to take his money. One day they

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HBCUs play a vital role in education and need more funding

Historically black colleges and univerisities (HBCUs) have produced 25 percent of America’s black college graduates and most of the black doctoral degree recipients, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Enrollment at HBCUs has risen since the mid-1980s, from about 70,000 students to almost 300,000.

Unfortunately, a long history of chronic underfunding, classrooms with broken air conditioners and tattered library books have handicapped many of the nation’s 105

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U.S Senate not likely to have Black Members For Years

If the Senate were representative of the U.S. population, 13 of its 100 members would be African-American. But there have been only six black senators in the country's history.

Right now, there are zero. And it will likely remain that way after the 2012 elections, since none of the major Senate candidates are black.

A legislature is going to pass policies based in large measure on the experiences of people who are in the legislature.

"I frankly think it's a shame, and I think it is

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Jamaica: Parliament passes bill for foreign company tax exemption

Jamaica’s parliament has passed a bill offering a tax incentive for officers of global companies that set up their head offices in Jamaica.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Act, which was spearheaded by Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, will offer an income tax exemption for non-residents who perform group head office activities in Jamaica.

“The point to note here is that not all activities of all foreign corporations are being exempt by this bill,” Phillips said. “The purpose of

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Sudan and South Sudan agree on 9 issues but not border

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have reached nine agreements but did not work out the issues surrounding the contested Abyei region or the demarcation of their shared border.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir said the two countries would sign a “protocol of collaboration” on Thursday.

Atif Kiir, a South Sudan spokesman, said late Wednesday that Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and Kiir agreed on economic issues and a buffer zone between their borders to allow oil

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Election 2012: Congressional Black Caucus launches voter protection initiative

The Congressional Black Caucus held a series of events throughout the country on Tuesday to educate communities on voter suppression laws and to help ensure eligible voters aren't turned away at the polls in November.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have partnered with community leaders and local and state elected officials in their districts to present the "For the People" voter protection initiative. The goal of the project is to give local leaders the tools to inform

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Haiti: Mining law due in 6 months - PM Lamothe

A drill worker listens for the bit, hundreds of feet underground, during exploratory drilling for minerals and metals Haiti. PHOTO/Dieu Nalio Chery/AP

Haiti's prime minister says the government hopes to introduce a new mining law within six months that could set royalties rates of between 9 and 12 percent on companies drilling for precious metals.

Haiti is seeking to update nearly 40-year-old mining laws in an effort to reap benefits from the newly emerging industry. Two mining

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Twenty20 World Cup Cricket: West Indies vs England

West Indies are relying on Trinidad mystery spinner Sunil Narine to make a big impact on the England batting when the two teams meet in their opening super eight match at the Twenty20 World Cup in Pallekele tomorrow.

“Sunil is our trump card, he’s done well for us in that format, hopefully he could have a big impact on the English batting lineup,” West Indies captain Darren Sammy told reporters today.

“In Sri Lankan conditions if he’s got assistance he will be a

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"Hidden" billionaires of Africa - may number close to 200

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group speaks during the final session of the World Economic Forum on Africa meeting in Cape Town June 6, 2008. PHOTO/Mike Hutchings

The black economy is very big

Africa may have as many as 200 “hidden” billionaires operating in the unofficial economy who will seek to legitimize their wealth in the future, investor Mark Mobius said.

“There is a lot of hidden wealth,” Mobius, who oversees more than US$40 billion as

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Howard University and partners providing free cancer scans

Cancer patient after a scan at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington. PHOTO/Jim Bourg/Reuters

Howard University Hospital has partnered with a local Positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging technology center, Metro Region PET Center, to provide free, lifesaving cancer scans to patients without insurance.

So far, the center has provided more than US$700,000 worth of free scans for Howard University Hospital cancer patients, said Dr. Robert Williams, an

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Oando Foundation Launches Effort to Transform African Education at 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

(PRNewswire-USNewswire) -- The Oando Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Oando PLC, one of Africa's leading indigenous energy solutions providers – is attending the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting this week to emphasize the urgent need to transform education in Nigeria and across the African continent.

The Foundation is calling on government, business and donor organizations to make the investments necessary for Nigeria and Africa to meet the Millennium Development

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Haiti: Cholera outbreak under control - Prime Minister Lamothe

(Reuters) - A cholera epidemic in Haiti that has killed thousands and been blamed on U.N. peacekeepers was "regrettable" but has been brought under control, the prime minister of the Caribbean nation said at the United Nations on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe met U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday, but he told Reuters they did not discuss accusations by some Haitians that Nepalese peacekeepers sparked the epidemic after camp latrines contaminated a

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Election 2012: Obama widens lead in Florida, Ohio

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney 53%-44% in Florida, 53%-43% in Ohio and 54%-42% in Pennsylvania, according to a new swing state poll from Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times …. About seven in 10 Americans think the Obama administration’s landmark health care law will go fully into effect with some changes, an Associated Press-GfK poll found … Obama will take the case to

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South Africa: Labor unrest continues to disrupts mining industry

Disruptions to South Africa's key mining sector increased as AngloGold Ashanti said Wednesday that strikers have halted all its operations in the country, which provide 32 percent of the multinational's gold production.

Anglo American Platinum workers have been striking for weeks.

The labor unrest moved Monday to the transport sector with a major union saying 20,000 road freight employees are demanding a 12 percent pay rise.

AngloGold Ashanti spokesman Alan Fine said strikers

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Forbes Afrique magazine to highlight successful business and entrepreneurs in Africa

The founder and proprietor of the newly launched magazine, Forbes Afrique, says the magazine will highlight successful business people as well as investment opportunities in francophone African countries.

Lucien Ebata, who is also chief executive officer of the Orion Oil Company, said he went into partnership with U.S.-based Forbes media to establish Forbes Afrique magazine to help spread information about Africa to continent and the rest of the world.

“I see in Forbes a model that

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Top African American entrepreneurs of 2012

These fast-growing, private companies are led by African-American entrepreneurs who founded them and have transformed them into successful companies.

Leonard Boyd, Founder and CEO Lux Consulting


Leonard Boyd

2011 Revenue: US$12.3 million
Three-Year Growth: 561 percent

Leonard Boyd founded the Lux Consulting Group in 1999.

Lux Consulting provides professional services including IT, grants management, and technical assistance to its clients which include the U.S. Department

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S & P downgrades the Bahamas rating from stable to negative

Standard & Poor’s (S & P) have revised the outlook on The Bahamas BBB rating from stable to negative.

In the latest report from the S & P, the ratings agency issued a warning that a downgrade could occur if the Perry Christie administration fails to craft a medium-term fiscal plan to reign in the country's debt.

A Bahamas government official did not dispute the findings of the report. He said that the new administration had inherited a “deteriorating fiscal situation where the

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Troubled BlackBerry maker reaches out to Africa to salvage sales

The company that makes BlackBerry smartphones is looking to Africa to help its troubled sales.

Officials with Canadian-based Research In Motion told journalists in Lagos today that its handsets are the number one choice among those using smartphones in Nigeria and South Africa.

Officials say that in Nigeria alone, its phones represent one out of every two phones in the market, an incredible grip on the market of Africa's most populous nation. BlackBerry phones remain such a pop

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HBCUs to receive $228 million in grants

The Department of Education recently announced it is providing US$228 million in grants to 97 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in 19 states. The funds will be used for campus expansion, counseling programs, science equipment and faculty training.

"HBCUs have made enduring, even staggering contributions to American life despite the steep financial challenges many have faced," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "The grants will help these important

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Trinidad and Tobago: 36 years as a republic

Trinidad and Tobago is celebrating its 36th year as a republic on Monday with contrasting messages from the political directorate in the oil rich twin island republic.

Acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith has told the nation that the time has come to stop believing in fairy tales and do the work Trinidad and Tobago requires to become a better place to live.

“We must give up the notion that some fairy godmother is going to emerge to transform our land and fulfil our dreams. It is we

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Haiti announces ban on plastic bags

The government of Haiti has announced a ban on importing, manufacturing and marketing them as of October 1.

“This is a logical decision and makes sense,” Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said. “Importing, manufacturing bio-degradable items will benefit Haiti’s short, mid- and long-term environmental interest.”

Plastic and foam food containers are everywhere in Haiti — clogging canals, cluttering streets and choking ocean wildlife.

In Haiti the black plastic bags are the

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Nigeria names buyers of five state power plants

Power pylons in Nigeria. PHOTO/File

(Reuters) - Nigeria announced on Tuesday the preferred bidders for five state power generation plants, part of plans to privatize the country's electricity sector to boost growth in Africa's second largest economy.

Despite holding the world's seventh largest gas reserves, Nigeria only produces around 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for its 160 million people, less than a tenth of the amount South Africa provides for a population a third of the

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President Barack Obama addresses United Nations

U.S. President Barack Obama. PHOTO/File

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney were arguing over how to address U.S. challenges in the Middle East and elsewhere overseas in nearly back-to-back addresses Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Foreign policy has again taken the spotlight from economic issues in the tight presidential race as Obama also was addressing world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly. His U.N. visit was expected to

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Twenty20 World Cup Cricket: West Indies through to super eight stage

West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle (C) celebrates with his captain Darren Sammy (L) after he dismissed Ireland cricketer Niall O'Brien (R) during the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match between West Indies and Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. PHOTO/AFP

(Reuters) - West Indies qualified for the Twenty20 World Cup super eight stage without winning a game after their final Group B match against Ireland was abandoned because of rain on Monday.

Ireland reached 129 for six

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East African technology entrepreneurs to watch

"Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny, and making change from the bottom up." – President Barack Obama

Like elsewhere, Africa is full of innovators.

However, innovation is often the easier part. There are two very difficult things in the techology business. One is making money; a lot of money. There have been a few cash-rich digital innovations in East Africa, where the most successful mobile application (it is also among the most

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Bounce TV to launch on ABC affiliate WXYZ this week

Wednesday will mark a notable day in Metro Detroit television history as WXYZ (Channel 7, an ABC affiliate) will launch BOUNCE TV, considered in a press release as "the nation's first broadcast TV network designed for African-American audiences."

The new network can be seen on channel 7.3; WXYZ is the first Scripps-owned station in the country to offer The Bounce TV network.

This new network is a multicast channel; the addition won't affect the original WXYZ station's ABC affiliation

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Part IV: Why Obama Will Win in November 2012

As your humble correspondents, my colleagues and I know that you expect us to report the facts, the truth and just about enough information so you can make your own mind up about things. And God knows that we try to do this as best as we can! However, how can one separate themselves from their background? How can we write a story about racism without drawing from some of our own personal experiences? We are, after all, integral members of the African Diaspora. Yes - we are supposed to be

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Jamaica: Simpson-Miller administration to abandon LNG project

(Jamaica Gleaner) - It has now been confirmed that the Portia Simpson-Miller administration will announce plans to abandon its long-stated intention to introduce liquefied natural gas (LNG).

After years of planning and millions of dollars in expenditure, the Simpson-Miller administration has decided that it just cannot afford the cost of setting up the infrastructure and other requirements for the introduction of LNG.

Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell is scheduled to make that

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Election 2012: Federal court examines South Carolina voter ID laws

African American voters in Maryland. PHOTO/Rich Vary/NewsHour

South Carolina is in federal court arguing that its new law requiring people prove their identity at the polls won’t make voting so tough that it reduces turnout of African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities.

A federal panel is to determine whether South Carolina’s voter identification law violates the Voting Rights Act by putting heavy burdens on minorities who don’t have the identification. Last December, the

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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Profile: Lisa Price - Founder of Carol’s Daughter

Lisa Price - Founder of Carol's Daughter

Lisa Price's started the beauty brand Carol's Daughter by making mixtures in her own kitchen sink. Price named the company after her mother, Carol Price.

In the early 1990s, she was part of a television production team by day, and by night she was a one-woman product-concocting hobbyist-turned-entrepreneur. Actually, in Price's case, it was more like nights and weekends.

In 1993, Price's mother, convinced her to bring some of her handmade

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Mali welcomes ECOWAS intervention

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which has been trying to broker an end to the political crisis in Mali will secretly deploy regional troops to deal with Islamist militants following request by authorities in Bamako.

Mali’s defense minister says the country would welcome the creation of a logistics base and command post in Bamako, from where neighboring countries could launch a military intervention to take back Mali’s north from radical Islamists affiliated to

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Citizens of Haiti, Jamaica ineligible for US 2014 Diversity Visa

(Jamaica Observer)- The United States says Haitians and Jamaicans are among nationals not eligible to apply for the 2014 Diversity Visa (DV) Programme.

The US Department of State said those nationals are ineligible because their countries “sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years.”

Other countries ineligible are Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru,

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Elsie Scott, president of Congressional Black Caucus Foundation leaving at term's end

Dr. Elsie Scott president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. PHOTO/File

Elsie Scott has dedicated her life to justice and education. Maybe that’s because, even at a young age, she knew those were the two things that African Americans needed most on their march to freedom.

And for the last five years as the head of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Dr. Scott, 65, has lived out this mantra, helping turn the organization into one of the most notable nonprofits

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Nigeria: Boko Haram Islamists suspected on suicide bombing attack on church that kills 2

A suicide car bomber attacked a Catholic church conducting Mass in northern Nigeria on Sunday, killing two people and wounding another 45 in a region under assault by the radical Islamist sect, officials said.

An Associated Press journalist heard the explosion after 9 a.m. Sunday in the city of Bauchi, which has seen a number of bombings and shootings blamed on the sect known as Boko Haram. The blast appeared to hit a parking lot alongside the St. John's Catholic Church in the

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Jon "Bones" Jones beats Vitor Belfort to retain title

UFC light heavyweight champion at the pre-fight press conference. PHOTO/Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Jon “Bones” Jones, the UFC’s light heavyweight champion defended his title for the fourth time, submitting Brazilian Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort in the fourth round of the main event of UFC 152 in Toronto.

Jones, who at 24 years old became the youngest-ever UFC champion, extended a winning streak unparalleled in company history. The first fighter to win four straight

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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Twenty20 World Cup: West Indies fall to Australia

Chris Gayle of the West Indies (R) plays a shot as Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade looks on during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup match between Australia and West Indies in Colombo. PHOTO/AFP

(Reuters) - Australia beat the West Indies by 17 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in their rain-affected Group B match in the Twenty20 World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Scores: West Indies 191-8 (C. Gayle 54, M. Samuels 50) v Australia 100-1 off 9.1 overs (S. Watson 41

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Nigeria's Arik Air resumes domestic flights

Arik Air, Nigeria's largest airline will resume flying its domestic routes Sunday, the company's managing director said, after publicly announcing it would stop flying.

The airlines' managing director Chris Ndulue offered a brief statement to reporters Saturday, only saying the company met with government officials in the nation's capital and had resolved "all issues" it had.

"We are happy to resume operations," Ndulue said.

In a separate statement, secretary to the federal

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Lewis Hamilton takes pole position at Singapore Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton ahead of Singapore Grand Prix. PHOTO/Formula One News

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position on Saturday for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Hamilton gave McLaren its fourth consecutive pole position for the first time since 1999, and his victory chances in Sunday’s race were boosted by Williams’ Pastor Maldonado earning a surprise second place in qualifying.

“We have put ourselves in the best position, so we need to capitalize on that,” Hamilton said.

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Election 2012: Tide shifting toward Obama in battleground states

U.S. President Barack Obama on the campaign trail earlier this year. PHOTO/File

In a presidential race seemingly frozen in place for months, the advantage has shifted toward President Barack Obama.

That change follows a series of miscues by Mitt Romney, punctuated by the Republican challenger's comments about people who pay no income tax.

Despite a continuing gray economic sky and unrest in the Mideast, the president has edged ahead of Romney in some of the most competitive states,

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Building the Caribbean Internet economy - One IXP at a time

Barbados has joined the growing list of Caribbean countries actively pursuing implementation of a vital component in developing the local technology sector: a domestic Internet exchange Point (IXP). The move signals a critical shift as governments and Internet service providers alike take steps to address some critical and costly Internet infrastructure gaps in the Caribbean region.

Internet access across much of the Caribbean is heavily and unnecessarily dependent upon foreign

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Aliko Dangote goes global - planning massive expansion outside Africa

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group speaks during the final session of the World Economic Forum on Africa meeting in Cape Town June 6, 2008. PHOTO/Mike Hutchings

Billionaire Aliko Dangote is looking to expand globally.

Dangote Cement, one of his companies will be investing in Iraq and Myanmar - the construction of a plant in either of the two countries is scheduled to commence in 2013.

Brazil, Chile and Indonesia also on his list of possible investment

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Advertisers not tapping into strong African American market - report

Even after absorbing a devastating economic hit from the Great Recession, African American consumers remain a potent force but are often overlooked by advertisers, according to a new research report.

African Americans are projected to have a combined spending power of US$1.1 trillion by 2015, according to the report released by the market-research firm Nielsen and the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which represents 200 black-oriented newspapers.

As a group, African

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Jamaica: Job cuts, wage freeze expected in the public sector

Jamaica will be eliminating more positions from the public sector before the end of this year. This has been revealed by the country's Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips as part of measures to reduce the public sector wage bill.

While unable to state how many additional posts would be involved, Phillips said the process would be done without impairing the functions of the public bodies. The positions that will be eliminated are those that are not currently

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Nigeria's Arik Air suspends domestic flights

Nigeria's largest airline, Arik Air cancelled all domestic flights for a second day after a union under the country’s airports authority stopped its planes from flying yesterday in Lagos, the commercial capital.

Officials from the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria blocked check-in counters and chained doors leading to a boarding gate.

The Aviation Authority is owed 18 billion Naira (US$114 million) by the airline for the use of airport facilities.

The airline, which

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Rep. Maxine Waters cleared of ethics violations

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug 27, 2008. PHOTO/Ron Edmonds/AP

California Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters will not be charged with ethics violations.

At a meeting Friday, House Ethics Committee members said they found no violations in their investigation of allegations she steered a US$12 million federal bailout to a bank where her husband owns stock. Waters is a senior Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.

The

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Grenada:Prime Minister Tillman Thomas administration rocked by another resignation

Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas

The embattled Tillman Thomas administration has faced another resignation as Grenada’s ongoing political drama continues.

Environment Minister, Glynnis Roberts submitted her resignation to Governor General Sir Carlisle Glean on Thursday.

This will be the third resignation of a cabinet official from Prime Minister Tillman Thomas’ ruling National Democratic Congress government since April this year.

Reliable sources in the Tillman Thomas

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Ethiopia: Hailemariam Desalegn sworn in as Prime Minister

Newly sworn in Ethiopia Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. PHOTO/Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

Ethiopia's parliament swore in a new prime minister on Friday.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn succeeds former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died on August 20 after ruling Ethiopia for more than two decades.

No vote was held Friday. Instead the country's ruling party, the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front — which controls majority of the seats in parliament — announced its

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

HOPE CEO Talks Strategies to Boost African-American Businesses

Bill Bynum

Bill Bynum, CEO of Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union, joined leaders from across the nation Wednesday to examine strategies for bolstering small business ownership among African-Americans.

Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta indicates that two of the most common sources of capital for startup businesses include loans from friends and families and home equity.

Some African-Americans may not have wide access to those sources, Bynum said.

“Our

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Profile: Femi Akinde - Founder and CEO SlimTrader

Femi Akinde - Founder and CEO SlimTrader

Femi Akinde, is the founder and CEO of SlimTrader, a company which is focusing on mobile payment technologies, mobile storefronts empowering consumers, and widening the reach of businesses in Africa.

SlimTrader, (founded in 2009), provides an e-commerce marketplace that enables brands and customers to conveniently and efficiently transact through text messages, no Internet access required is required.

SlimTrader continues to grow, and it

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Barbados Stock Exchange stimulated by new Royal Fidelity securities

Activity of the Barbados Stock Exchange was given a little boost yesterday (September 19) when Royal Fidelity Merchant Bank & Trust (Barbados ) Limited brought two new securities to the index.

During a small ceremony at the Barbados Stock Exchange , Royal Fidelity’s managing director Archie Cuke announced the listing of the Royal Fidelity TIGRS Series A2 and TIGRS Series A3.

“The listing of these TIGRS on the exchange will allow them to be publicly traded, which provides

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Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose buys a stake in the Pizza business

Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose in front of Giordano's Pizza PHOTO/Bob Carl

Deep dish pizza company Giordano's has announced that the Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, has become an equity partner in the restaurant franchise.

"The pizza business is a cash flow machine; we just have to make it grow," said Richard Levy, managing partner of Victory Park Capital Advisors, which bought the stalwart Chicago brand last year.

Levy said Derrick Rose paid for his undisclosed piece of the

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Sudan: New gold refinery opened - may help replace lost oil revenues

Workers processing gold at the new Sudan Gold Refinery. PHOTO/Reuters

(Reuters) - Sudan opened its first gold refinery on Wednesday as it seeks to improve the quality of its rising gold exports and offset the economic damage inflicted by the loss of most of its oil revenues.

The country is increasing its gold production after losing three quarters of its oil output when South Sudan became independent in July last year.

The government hopes the new refinery in the capital Khartoum

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Jamaica looking to use Tax exemption to attract investment, boost economy

Jamaica is looking to implement a bill that would create a new tax exemption to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country, help stimulate the economy and by extension create badly needed jobs.

The bill - the Income Tax Amendment Act, which was tabled in Jamaica's House of Representatives this earlier week is intended to exempt officers of overseas companies that establish their head offices in Jamaica from the payment of income tax. It will cover persons who are not

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Election 2012: Obama numbers rising - boosted by latest housing reports

U.S. President Barack Obama, (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/AP

Fresh signs of a national housing rebound and growing support in public opinion polls boosted President Barack Obama’s bid for a new term in the White House on Wednesday as Republican rival Mitt Romney struggled to quell his video controversy.

(More: Election 2012: Romney campaign struggles after damaging video emerges)

The challenger’s attempts to get his campaign back on track ran into

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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Jamaican bankers urge CARICOM to resist controversial US tax law - (FATCA)

Jamaican bankers and financial stakeholders lobbying the Jamaican government to take on a US tax compliance rule, which require them to release client information to American authorities, have gone regional.

But firms are still not clear how they will comply with the extra-territorial law and not break local privacy laws, while the state doesn’t yet know how it can intervene.

The Caribbean Association of Banks took a position paper to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) back in June,

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Africa on course to create regional competition law

Africa is on track to have working regional competition bodies by next year and businesses need to prepare themselves to navigate a plethora of rules or suffer damages.



Countries in Africa had realized that in order to develop projects quicker and to encourage foreign direct investments, they needed to have legal competition systems that were more efficient and worked better together.

The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), is a regional organization which works to

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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder cleared of 'Fast and Furious' wrongdoing

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. PHOTO/File

A long-awaited report on the U.S. government’s controversial gun-trafficking operation known as “Fast and Furious” released Wednesday found no evidence that Attorney General Eric Holder knew of the botched effort to trace the flow of guns to Mexico’s drug cartels prior to its public unraveling in January 2011.

The report by the Justice Department’s Inspector General Michael Horowitz said there is “no evidence that … Holder was

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The Light at the End of the Racism Tunnel

In 2008, Leo Tavares* convinced his mother to vote for Barack Obama. He actually walked with his politically naïve mother into voting booth and told her who to pull the lever for. But poor Leon made a huge tactical error: He had, in hindsight, wanted John McCain as his president. It’s just that, for the moment, Obama’s name had been all the rage; and in a moment of confusion, he’d told his mother what to do and thus, another vote was cast for America’s first black president. Four

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Haiti: Digicel Group set to complete integration of Voila network

Digicel, which acquired Haiti’s Voila network earlier this year, will complete the integration of the network by October 15, the company announced.

Digicel also announced that the Voila network and company will be closing on the same day.

According to the company, the integration will expand the area of coverage for Voila customers, along with additional 4G data services.

“We here at Digicel are excited at the idea of welcoming Voila subscribers to our 4 million-subscriber

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Former Zambia first lady Betty Kaunda dies at 83

Betty Kaunda (pictured), the wife of the first President of independent Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, passed away last evening in Zimbabwe where she had gone to visit her daughter.

Mrs. Betty Kaunda was born on November, 17, 1928 at Mpika to Kaweche Banda and Milika Sakala Banda.

Ex-president Kenneth Kaunda, and Betty Banda were married in 1946.

Mrs. Kaunda, was first lady of Zambia from October 1964 to November 1991.

She preferred to contribute quietly, mostly behind the scenes, to

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Google goes low-tech to unleash Nigeria and Africa potential

Despite all its cutting-edge technology, Google Inc., has turned to the humble text message to break into Nigeria's booming economy.

The search engine has started a service in Nigeria, as well as in Ghana and Kenya, which enables mobile phone users to access emails through text messaging.

That comes as Google's office in Lagos has begun working with small business owners in this nation of more than 160 million people, bringing more than 25,000 businesses online over the past

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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Election 2012: Obama widens lead - latest poll numbers

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

President Barack Obama has emerged from the conventions of both political parties with a clear lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has found.

In the poll, Obama led Romney by 50 percent to 45 percent among Americans judged "likely" to vote by Peter Hart and Bill McInturff, who conducted the NBC/WSJ survey.

The Democratic incumbent also

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Magic Johnson education program providing help to school dropouts

Earvin “Magic” Johnson. PHOTO/File

An education program named after NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson has arrived in Georgia.

The Magic Johnson Bridgescape center is now open and accepting students in Atlanta. The program is meant to help high school-age students who've left school or are at risk of leaving to earn a standard high school diploma.

The program is part of the Provost Academy Georiga, a statewide virtual charter high school. The program is free and is open to

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Michael Muirhead appointed CEO of West Indies Cricket Board

Michael Muirhead. PHOTO/William Richards

The West Indies Cricket Board has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

Jamaican management consultant Michael Muirhead would succeed Dr Ernest Hilaire, whose tenure ends on September 30.

Muirhead, who holds an MBA in finance from Georgia State University in the United States and a degree in management studies from the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, has been appointed on a three-year contract.

The

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Profile: Malmsey Rangaka - co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines

Malmsey Rangaka - co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines

Malmsey Rangaka is co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines, a family wine farm located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The M’hudi wine brands are sold not only in South Africa but also the on the African continent; the United States, and Europe.

Ms. Rangaka and her husband founded the M'hudi Wines in 2003 and in 2005, M'hudi released its first vintage.

M’hudi Wines is the first wine tourism farm to be 100 percent owned and

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Oprah Winfrey's OWN ratings improve

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network has been hitting highs recently, and this past weekend was no exception.

The week of September 10th marked OWN’s 35th consecutive week of total day year-over-year growth among women 25-54, for nearly nine consecutive months. Due to OWN’s ratings momentum, the network now ranks among the top 5 ad-supported cable networks on Saturday and Sunday night.

Launching OWN has been an uphill battle for Oprah, but it seems like things are finally looking

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South Africa: Relief as Lonmin strike ends - miners accept deal

Striking platinum miners in South Africa have accepted an agreement for higher wages with London-registered Lonmin PLC and plan to return to work Thursday, a mediator said of the strike that lasted nearly six weeks and pulled in gold and chrome miners.

The deal reached Tuesday includes a 22 percent pay increase and a one-off payment of 2,000 rand (US$250) to help cover the no-work, no-pay stoppage, according to Bishop Joe Seoka, a member of the negotiating team and head of the South

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Caribbean Association of Banks looking to expand membership

The Caribbean Association of Banks is looking to expand its membership, covering institutions that are not indigenous to the region.

Given that issues which affect banks that are native to the Caribbean also affect non-indigenous banks, the Caribbean Association of Banks has invited international financial institutions that operate in the region to become a part of its membership.

The Caribbean Association of Banks already has a strong presence in the Caribbean, and it has already

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Election 2012: Romney campaign struggles after damaging video emerges

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

Already scrambling to steady a struggling campaign, Republican Mitt Romney confronted a new headache Monday after a video surfaced showing him telling wealthy donors that almost half of all Americans "believe they are victims" entitled to extensive government support. He added that as a candidate for the White House, "my job is not to worry about those people."

At a hastily called news conference late Monday, Romney conceded the

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Mali: ECOWAS urging intervention

The president of the West African bloc of nations said Monday it "can no longer hesitate" to combat terrorism and criminality in northern Mali, which was overrun by elements affiliated to al-Qaeda.

Earlier this month, Mali's interim government requested military intervention, including aerial support and five battalions but leaders of a March coup, who retain considerable influence in Mali's capital Bamako, have previously opposed foreign intervention.

In his remarks, Desire Kadre

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Monday, September 17, 2012

Company to watch: Keystone Augusta Inc.

David Mullings: co-founder and Business Development Manager Keystone Augusta Inc.

Keystone Augusta Inc., is a private investment and diversified holdings company founded by Jamaicans Kirk Anthony Hamilton and brothers David and Robert Mullings.

One of the objectives of Keystone Augusta Inc., is to build a business model similar to Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, where the company is publicly traded, capital is used for acquisitions of acquire under-valued companies, and all

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Idris Ayodeji Bello - The Afropreneur

"Afropreneur" Idris Ayodeji Bello - co-founder of Wennovation Hub

Idris Ayodeji Bello, the "Afropreneur."

That's the buzzword adopted by Bello to describe the bright, independent and tech savvy entrepreneurs using creative thinking and the power of innovation to take over Africa's economic destiny.

"Over time Africa has relied on government and big multinationals for solutions -- but they're not coming," explains Bello.

"But of recent you're seeing a new wave of young men and

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Grenada: Parliament prorogued on Prime Minister Thomas request

Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas. PHOTO/File

Grenada's governor general has discontinued a parliamentary session, allowing Prime Minister Tillman Thomas to avoid debate on a no-confidence motion filed by a former political ally.

Governor General Carlyle Glean agreed Monday to prorogue parliament, ending the session and killing the no-confidence motion filed by lawmaker Karl Hood.

The move buys Thomas time to thwart any attempt by opposition lawmakers and unhappy backbenchers

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Nigeria military: Radical Islamist Boko Haram spokesman shot dead

Soldiers manning a checkpoint in northern Nigeria shot to death two ranking members of a radical Islamist sect responsible for hundreds of killings this year alone, a military official said Monday.

The dead included the spokesman for the sect known as Boko Haram, as well as a commander who operates in Kogi state south of Nigeria's capital, the official said.

The shooting occurred Monday morning in Mariri, a town to the southeast of Kano, the largest city in Nigeria's Muslim north.

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Election 2012: Obama, Romney spar on China, economy, jobs

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

Competing for white working-class voters, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney squared off Saturday on China and accused each other of backing policies that would move American jobs overseas as the U.S. economy struggles to recover.

"In 2008, candidate Obama promised to take China 'to the mat'," Romney said in his weekly podcast. "But since then, he's let China run all over

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South Africa: 2 mines re-open despite continuation of labor unrest

(Reuters) - Two South African mines reopened on Monday after labor strife forced them to suspend operations last week, but striking miners vowed to keep operations run by world No. 1 platinum producer Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) shut.

Wage talks were set to resume in a bid to end a 5-week strike at the Marikana mine of platinum producer Lonmin, bringing its production to a halt and pushing up the price of the precious white metal.

The unrest has its roots in a turf war for

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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Portia Simpson-Miller: Jamaica on track for growth and job creation

Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller. PHOTO/File

(Jamaica Observer) - Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller has said that her administration has been working hard to secure additional investments and facilitate growth, employment and development for the country.

Ms. Simpson-Miller outlined that her administration was committed to reducing the unemployment rate, now at 14.3 percent.

These and other remarks were today afternoon at the People’s National Party’s

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HBCU Honors Programs: Attracting the Best and Brightest

There is an abundance of research on academically underprepared students and their experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Likewise, there is a fair amount of research on developmental programs and the role that HBCUs play in empowering students who struggle in college.

However, there is a lack of empirical research on high-achieving students at HBCUs, especially those that participate in honors programs.

This lack of research creates a false understanding

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Somalia: President Hassan Skeikh Mohamud inaugurated

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud inaugurated

Somalia's new leader was inaugurated Sunday amid tight security in the capital, Mogadishu, four days after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud survived an assassination attempt.

Mohamud, a teacher and activist, won the election last week against outgoing President Sheik Sharif Sheikh Ahmed by the legislative vote of 190 to 79.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by some regional leaders, including the prime minister of Ethiopia and the

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Saturday, September 15, 2012

Instances of the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations

By Emmanuel Musaazi



The Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations is a quote made famous by former United States President George W. Bush. The underlying message of the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations suggests a double standard, lower standards, in this case based on race. The subtle, derisive but clear notion, that a group of people do not have the capacity to succeed on their own without external help.

In my opinion the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations is a disposition upon which political

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Trinidad & Tobago; Grenada sign energy agreement

The governments of Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada have signed a cooperation agreement for energy development.

The agreement will advance the joint exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the maritime areas in Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada.

The agreement will also lay the foundation for a broad spectrum of cooperation activities which may include: the development and implementation of technical programmes, projects and activities; the conduct of joint seismic surveys and joint

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Caribbean nations must prepare for oil spill - Industry leader

Caribbean Oil. PHOTO/News Americas

With several Caribbean countries embracing offshore oil drilling, nations in the region should step up their abilities to combat emergencies stemming from deep-water oil wells, an industry leader and former U.S. regulator said Friday.

The remarks, delivered by onetime offshore energy chief Michael Bromwich and Lee Hunt, the former president of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, came one day after a summit on oil spill response in

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Ethiopia: Coalition confirms Hailemariam Desalegn as Prime Minister

Ethiopia Prime Minister-designate Hailemariam Desalegn. PHOTO/Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

(Reuters) - Ethiopia's ruling coalition on Saturday approved Hailemariam Desalegn's appointment as prime minister to replace Meles Zenawi, who died in August, the government spokesman said.

"He is already the Prime Minister as of now but he has to take the oath in the parliament to formalize it," Bereket Simon told a news conference in the capital.

Desalegn took over in an acting capacity after Zenawi's

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Columbus International obtains approval to acquire TeleBarbados

(MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Columbus International Inc. ("Columbus") announced that it officially acquired formal approval to enter the Barbados telecommunications market. The approval includes the acquisition of TeleBarbados and all requisite licenses to provide wholesale and retail broadband-enabled services for both businesses and consumers.

Brendan Paddick, the CEO of Columbus Communications, stated that, "Barbados' high quality infrastructure, excellent workforce and reliable

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South Africa's Ramaphosa widens interests - to acquire Duropack plants in Germany and Czech Republic

Cyril Ramaphosa

Leading international paper and packaging group Mondi Group, co-owned by South African business man Cyril Ramaphosa, has signed an agreement with machinery supplier Duropack to pay €125 million (US$164 million) in cash for the acquisition of Duropack’s German and Czech Republic production units.

The South Africa-based group said in a statement on Friday that the deal consists 2 corrugated box plants which consume approximately 130 thousand tonnes of containerboard

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Curley M. Dossman, Jr. installed as new Chairman of 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

(PRNewswire-USNewswire) - The 100 Black Men of America, Inc., announces the installation of Curley M. Dossman, Jr. as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dossman, a long standing member and executive officer of 100 Black Men of America, will take the helm as Chairman of the Board on September 28, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Installation Ceremony will be held at the Ritz Carlton Atlanta where Dossman will be officially sworn in along with the 2012-2014 executive leadership team of the 100.

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Jamaica finalizing National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS

Jamaica is in the process of finalizing a National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS. The policy will be tabled in parliament in the coming weeks.

The country's Information Minister Ms. Sandrea Falconer, revealed that the policy is a framework for action by the government, employers and workers to deal effectively with HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

This new policy is based on the International Labor Organization's (ILO) principles on HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

The policy will take into

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South Africa: Industrial unrest continues as miners reject latest wage offer

South Africa's government and striking miners hardened their stances Friday, with miners rejecting a Lonmin platinum mine wage offer far below their demand and President Jacob Zuma's government vowing to halt the miners' illegal protests.

The bitter, Lonmin strike has spread to two other mines. Miners are calling on co-workers to shut down mines across the country, raising fears for the future of South Africa's biggest industry.

The strikers turned down Lonmin's offer of a 900 rand

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Homestrings - online platform that provides investment opportunities to Diasporans

Eric-Vincent Guichard - founder of Homestrings

An online platform that helps investors to find investment opportunities in Africa is widening its pool of potential clients.

The Homestrings website Launched in February 2011 by Eric-Vincent Guichard, a Guinean-American who also runs asset management firm Gravitas Capital Advisors, Homestrings has so far generated US$10 million and has a target of US$25 million by the end of 2012.

There are currently some 35 investment opportunities

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Election 2012: Obama widens lead over Romney

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama widened his lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney to 7 percentage points in a Reuters/Ipsos poll of likely voters on Thursday, the latest survey to show the Democrat ahead in the run-up to the November 6 election.

The daily online poll asked 990 likely voters over the previous four days which candidate they would pick if the vote took place today, with

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Profile: Tracey D. Syphax founder and CEO of Capitol City Contracting Inc.

A man's rise from prison to the boardroom - a rise from grass to grace



Tracey D. Syphax founder and CEO of Capitol City Contracting Inc. PHOTO/Tracey D. Syphax

Tracey Syphax is the founder and CEO of Capitol City Contracting Inc., and Phax Group, LLC.

Syphax who had been released from prison in 1992 founded the company in 1995.

Capitol City Contracting Inc., specializes in home and building improvements where as Phax Group, LLC is a real estate development company.

Mr. Syphax

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Jamaica seeks public-private partnership in green energy expansion

Wigton wind farm in Manchester, Jamaica. PHOTO/Jamaica Gleaner

Jamaica is undertaking a wind mapping study to determine wind blowing patterns and the best sites for erecting wind farms across the island nation.

Following its successful investment in the Wigton wind farm, it is encouraging the private sector to follow suit and to consider wind energy as a lucrative area for investment.

Investment in wind energy is in keeping with the national energy policy of Jamaica, which seeks to

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200 tonne consignment of Botswana beef rejected by European Union

The European Union market has rejected a 200 tonne beef consignment from Botswana.

The move follows the Botswana Meat Commission's failed chemical risk assessment procedure.

The Botswana Meat Commission, which had been banned from exporting beef to the European Union market, resumed last month, but their first consignment was vetoed because the level of antibiotics was above the limit set by the European Union.

Indications are that the meat came from 2,000 cattle from a feedlot

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Muhammad Ali to receive prestigious Liberty Medal

Retired boxing great Muhammad Ali

Retired boxing great Muhammad Ali will visit Philadelphia to receive the Liberty Medal, an award recognizing his longtime role as a fighter outside the ring for humanitarian causes, civil rights and religious freedom.

The honor will be presented on Thursday during a ceremony at the National Constitution Center by the champ’s daughter, who is also a boxer, and two U.S. Olympic athletes. It comes with a US$100,000 cash prize.

“Ali embodies the

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Election 2012: Florida - Voter rights restored to naturalized Citizens

African American voters in Maryland. PHOTO/Rich Vary/NewsHour

Florida’s attempt to screen voter rolls for non-U.S. citizens is yielding a smaller number than state officials had anticipated.

The Florida Department of State announced Wednesday that it used a federal immigration database to verify 207 voters are not citizens. Earlier this year, state officials under Republican Gov. Rick Scott had said they suspected more than 2,600 voters were ineligible and had asked election

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Journalist responds to Haiti Prime Minister Lamothe lawsuit

Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe

A Haitian-American journalist sued by Haiti's prime minister in a defamation lawsuit is standing by his reporting.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe filed a lawsuit Monday in Miami federal court against the weekly newspaper Haiti-Observateur and its reporter Leo Joseph.

The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based newspaper serves Haiti's diaspora community. The lawsuit says Joseph and the newspaper published false and malicious reports about Lamothe's role in the sale

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South Africa: Industrial action by miners threatening mining industry

(Reuters) - A leader of major protest by platinum miners in South Africa called on Thursday for a national strike in the sector "to bring the mining companies to their knees".

"On Sunday, we are starting with a general strike here in Rustenburg," protest leader Mametlwe Sebei told a crowd of several thousand striking workers at a soccer stadium near Rustenburg in the heart of the platinum

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Profile: Mike Johns - founder and CEO of Digital Mind State

Mike Johns - founder and CEO of Digital Mind State

Mike Johns is the Founder and President of Digital Mind State formerly known as UrbanWorld Wireless.

Digital Mind State is a marketing and technology management consultancy firm that specializes in the global convergence of digital communications, mobility, and cross-platform marketing.

Johns is the driving force behind the Digital Mind State brand, responsible for planning, business development, marketing and the company

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3 young African entrepreneurs to watch

In 2010, the African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation announced the Anzisha Prize - a pan-African award that scouts and celebrates African entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 22 who have implemented entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to key challenges facing their immediate communities.

The word "Anzisha" is taken from the KiSwahili language and roughly translates into "Start it Up." The Anzisha prize has gained momentum in Africa.

The top 3 finalists of the

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Haiti: Prime Minister Lamothe sues US newspaper for defamation

Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. PHOTO/File

Haiti's prime minister has sued a Haitian-American weekly newspaper for defamation over its reporting on the sale of a telecommunications company acquired by the government of Haiti.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in Miami federal court, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and South Florida businessman Patrice Baker said Haiti-Observateur's reporting on the sale of Haitel was "outrageous, scandalous and reminiscent of a tabloid

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Election 2012: ID laws could disenfranchise minority voters

African American voters in Maryland. PHOTO/Rich Vary/NewsHour

As many as 700,000 minority voters under age 30 may be unable to cast a ballot in November because of photo ID laws in certain states, according to a new study. The lower turnout could affect several House races as well as the tight presidential contest.

Using calculations based on turnout figures for the past two presidential elections, researchers at the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis concluded

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Newly elected Somalia President Mohamud unharmed in apparent assassination attempt

Newly elected Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. PHOTO/File

Somalia's president survived an assassination bid Wednesday, just two days into his new job, when bomb blasts claimed by Al-Qaida allied Al-Shabaab rebels rocked the Mogadishu hotel where he was meeting Kenya's foreign minister.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was unharmed after two blasts went off outside the hotel where he had been staying in central Mogadishu, but three soldiers were killed in what appeared to be an

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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Mining magnate Patrice Motsepe eyeing troubled Lonmin Mine

Patrice Motsepe, founder and chairman of African Rainbow Mineral Ltd. PHOTO/Simon Dawson/Getty Images

South African mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe has indicated interest in British platinum producer Lonmin’s Marikana mine, which is facing a four week strike that has halted production.

Motsepe who is also the founder and chairman of the African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), a leading South African diversified mining and minerals company, said despite the challenges in South Africa’s

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Profile: Gail Warrior - founder and CEO of the Warrior Group

Gail Warrior - founder and CEO of the Warrior Group

Gail Warrior is the founder and CEO of the Warrior Group - the largest largest minority woman-owned construction firm in the United States.

Under Ms. Warrior, The Warrior group founded in 1997, has grown into a multi-million dollar commercial general contracting and construction firm which has an impressive list of private and public sector clients across the United States.

According to the firm's website, Ms. Warrior is

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Barbados hosting Caribbean ICT road show

The Caribbean information communication and technology (ICT) road show opened in Bridgetown, Barbados on Monday with regional countries being called upon to develop their own blueprint for development utilizing new information technologies (IT).

Barbados Commerce and Trade Minister Haynesley Benn told the ceremony that in the evolving digital economy “the creation of wealth is based on knowledge generation and the application of technology to everything we produce; how it is produced

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Kenya strikes natural gas - though amount not yet commercial

(Reuters) -- Kenya's first offshore gas discovery is encouraging but not large enough for commercial production, the country's energy minister revealed on Tuesday.

Exploration firms Tullow Oil and Pancontinental Oil & Gas announced on Monday their licence consortium's operator Apache Corp had found gas in the shallow target of offshore well Mbawa-1.

However, Tullow Oil dashed hopes that oil might be found at the lower depths of the well on Tuesday, saying that no oil or gas had been

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Part III: Why Obama Will Win the November Elections

Richard Neustadt's classic 'Presidential Power' is, perhaps, the leading authority on the actual role of the American president. At the core, Neustadt argues, the American president is just the persuader-in-chief. Although he is the most powerful man in the world, the President of the United States is also a slave to the founders who instituted divided government between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. Simply, if the president is to wield his awesome power, he must, first and

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President and Michelle Obama honors victims of 9/11 attack

President Barack Obama first lady Michelle Obama, and members of the White House staff pause during a moment of silence to mark the 11th anniversary of the Sept, 11th, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012. PHOTO/Carolyn Kaster/AP

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and White House staffers observed a moment of silence Tuesday on the White House south lawn in memory of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

With three bell tolls and a bugler playing taps, the White House observance

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Jamaica: Prime Minister Simpson-Miller tackles unemployment

Jamaica Prime Minister.,Portia Simpson-Miller. PHOTO/File

Jamaica's prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller is calling on private companies in the Caribbean country to each hire at least one more qualified, jobless islander.

Ms. Simpson-Miller has dubbed the job-creating initiative the Jamaica Employ Program. She estimates it can eventually create 40,000 new jobs if businesses comply and help reduce Jamaica's 14.3 percent unemployment rate.

On Monday, officials with the Labor Ministry

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Monday, September 10, 2012

Somalia elects new president

Somalia's new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. PHOTO/File

Somalia's Parliament elected a new president of the country's fledgling government Monday, a move that members of the international community say is a key step toward the east African nation's transition from a war-torn failed state to a nation with an effective government.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a political newcomer, won the election against outgoing President Sheik Sharif Sheikh Ahmed by the legislative vote of 190 to 79,

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Don't BOX Me In! Inside the Coaches box of Coach Trisha Stafford-Odom

By Chris Reese



Trisha Stafford-Odom. PHOTO/dwhoops.com

Why Trish?

You see Duke/UNC betrayal. You see a black woman in a “white” environment. You see egg shells and thin ice. I don’t. I see T.S-0! Trish. I see someone that is known for putting elbow in the mouths of whoever feels like looking stupid within the setting of 94.5ft of hardwood.

I don’t “introduce” anyone simply because, if I have to do research, the best way for me to tell you about TITLE IX like

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Profile: Yvonne Thompson - founder and CEO ASAP Communications

Yvonne Thompson - founder and CEO ASAP Communications. PHOTO/YvonneThompson.com

Dr. Yvonne Thompson is the founder and CEO of ASAP Communications - a PR company she founded 28 years ago, and is the Founder and President of the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners (founded in 1996).

ASAP Communications, based in, south London, creates and delivers marketing and PR campaigns for high performing business enterprises,politicians, the education sector and also provides

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Dangote Group training and technology sparks success

Dangote cement’ Obajana plant. PHOTO/File

World-class technology and innovative training has catalyzed the success of Dangote Group, one of the largest trading and manufacturing conglomerates operating across the African continent.

Thirty years ago, when President and CEO Aliko Dangote founded the company, it focused on international trade of commodities such as cement, textiles, sugar, flour and salt.

The first few years of trading allowed Dangote Group to diversify its product

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Election 2012: Obama campaign fundraising edges out Romney in August

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

President Barack Obama and Democrats pulled slightly ahead of Mitt Romney and Republicans in monthly fundraising in August for the first time in four months.

Obama raised more than US$114 million in August and Romney brought in just over US$111 million. The two campaigns announced their fundraising numbers early Monday.

It's a sharp increase for Obama, who raised US$75 million in July. That

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Labor unrest continues to rattle mining industry in South Africa

Striking workers paralysed a gold mine in South Africa Monday, fueling fears that mounting discontent could spread to the entire mining sector and grip the country for months.

Demanding the removal of their local union leadership and asking for tax-free bonuses, 15,000 Gold Fields workers downed tools at its KDC mine west of Johannesburg.

The industrial action, which comes exactly a month after a strike was launched at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine, is the latest to hit South

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Bahamas Petroleum Company drilling permits renewed

(Reuters) - Bahamas Petroleum Company Plc said its oil drilling permits were renewed by the newly elected government of Bahamas, ending months of speculation that they would not be extended.

The company, whose portfolio comprises five exploration licences in the Bahamas, has been dogged by uncertainty over the renewal of it licences as politicians in the region use oil exploration as a rallying point.

The licenses expired in April amid media reports that they would not be

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Sunday, September 9, 2012

US Open 2012: Serena Williams is champion

Women's US Open 2012 champion, Serena Williams with the trophy. PHOTO/Timothy Clary/Getty Images

Finally tested, even trailing, at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams turned things around just in time.

Two points from defeat, Williams suddenly regained her composure and her strokes, coming back to win the last four games and beat No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 on Sunday night for her fourth championship at Flushing Meadows and 15th Grand Slam title overall.

"I honestly can't

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Tanzania oil firm to raise capital from local investors

Oil and gas explorers usually look outside East Africa’s relatively smaller financial markets to more developed markets like the United States, Canada and Europe, for funding to fuel exploration.

But Tanzania-based hydrocarbon explorer Swala Oil and Gas is going against the tide.

The company has launched a private placement in Tanzania, hoping to raise US$1.2 million. The company will use the money to collect data on the best drilling locations along its acquired blocks.

The

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Taylor Townsend - An up and coming Tennis player to watch

Taylor Townsend. PHOTO/Simon Bruty/SI

16 year-old Taylor Townsend is an American tennis player and currently the is the reigning junior Australian Open singles champion, the junior Wimbledon doubles champion, the junior US Open doubles champion and the number one junior tennis player in the world.

Her performance has inspired comparisons to the Williams sisters, and in the next few years she could be a dominant force on the women's tennis circuit.

Taylor Townsend and her sister

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Jamaica: PNP govt, and JLP disagree on CCJ implementation

The ruling People's National Party (PNP) government of Jamaica and the parliamentary Opposition (Jamaica Labor Party - JLP) remain on a collision course over the planned introduction of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the final appellate body, despite general agreement by the parties that this is the way to go.

With measures already started in parliament for the CCJ to replace the Privy Council, neither the PNP government nor the opposition appear ready to relent on their

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Lewis Hamilton wins Italian grand prix

A jubilant Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Italian grand prix

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, and Formula One leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari finished third to extend his overall lead.

Speculation about Hamilton's future and a possible switch to Mercedes dominated the weekend, but the 2008 champion put the focus firmly back on his driving with his first victory at Monza and the 20th of his career.

"It's a fantastic win in front of the best

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Somalia: Presidential vote set to create first stable govt. in 21 years

Lawmakers in Somalia are scheduled to choose the next president Monday, moving the country a step closer to its first stable government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

The new parliament, which was elected this past August, will hold a ballot to vote the new president from about two dozen candidates.

The United Nations envoy to Somalia, Tanzania's, Augustine P. Mahiga, in a letter to lawmakers, called for a credible leader who can lead the battered country toward

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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Election 2012: Obama widens lead over Romney despite jobs data

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama, picking up support following the Democratic National Convention, widened his narrow lead over Republican U.S. presidential challenger Mitt Romney in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Saturday.

The latest daily tracking poll showed Obama, a Democrat, with a lead of 4 percentage points over Romney. Forty-seven percent of 1,457 likely voters surveyed online

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Jamaica shock USA 2-1, in World Cup qualifiers

Jamaica beats the United States 2-1. PHOTO/Gilbert Bellamy/Reuters

Jamaica surprised the United States 2-1 to seize the Group A lead as Mexico moved closer to the final round of 2014 World Cup qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) region.

Goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton overcame Clint Dempsey's first-minute strike for the Americans as Jamaica posted their first victory over the US in 19 matches.

Dempsey's goal, 36 seconds into the match, was

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Mali: Possibility of ECOWAS intervention increasing

The current chair of the African Union, Benin President Boni Yayi, said Friday West African nations would soon meet on strategies to intervene in Mali, where Islamist extremists have seized the north.

West African bloc - the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes 15 countries, has made 3,300 standby troops available to Mali to help it win back the north.

Mali has however said it does not want African troops to be deployed into combat against the extremists,

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Mali: Possibility of ECOWAS intervention increasing

The current chair of the African Union, Benin President Boni Yayi, said Friday West African nations would soon meet on strategies to intervene in Mali, where Islamist extremists have seized the north.

West African bloc - the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes 15 countries, has made 3,300 standby troops available to Mali to help it win back the north.

Mali has however said it does not want African troops to be deployed into combat against the extremists,

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Friday, September 7, 2012

US Open 2012: Serena Williams advances to final

A jubilant Serena Williams advances to the final of the US Open 2012

Thanks to one more easy victory, Serena Williams is a match from her fourth U.S. Open title and 15th Grand Slam trophy overall.

Williams wasted little time or energy while overwhelming 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy 6-1, 6-2 on Friday night to reach the final at Flushing Meadows.

Not only has Williams won every set she's played over the last two weeks, she's dropped a total of only 19 games across six matches.

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Africa country rankings: Global Competitiveness Index

The World Economic Forum has released its Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013, which ranks economies in terms of national competitiveness. Of the 144 countries ranked, 38 are African economies.

Competitiveness as defined by the The World Economic Forum is the “set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country. The level of productivity, in turn, sets the level of prosperity that can be earned by an economy. The productivity level also

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Jamaica's Alphonso Cunningham wins gold at London Paralympic games

Alphonso Cunningham

Jamaica has grabbed gold in London again, winning its first gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games thanks to Alphonso Cunningham who threw the javelin a record distance on Tuesday.

Cunningham, who was holding steady in third place, surprised spectators and fellow competitors by throwing a regional record of 21.84 metres on his fifth and penultimate throw in the men’s 52-53 Javelin Final.

This latest win marks Cunningham’s second gold medal at the Paralympic

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Election 2012:Obama vs Romney - what each candidate stands for

U.S. President Barack Obama, (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/AP

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney agree on this much: The 2012 election is filled with political differences and voters will face a stark choice in policies.

On issues ranging from the role of government in American society to foreign policy, the Democratic and Republican candidates for president offered vastly different visions for the country in their acceptance speeches. Each set up

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Kenya: Labor unrest in education sector spreads to Universities

The education sector in Kenya is in crisis - operations in public universities were paralysed after employees went on strike to demand higher pay.

The staff, who include over 4,000 professors and lecturers from the 31 public universities, halted work on Thursday, the fourth day of another strike by teachers which has paralysed learning in public elementary and high schools.

Hopes of a return-to-work formula for teachers faded on Thursday after officials of the Kenya National Union of

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Profile: Christopher J. Williams - founder and CEO of The Williams Capital Group

Christopher J. Williams - founder and CEO of The Williams Capital Group

Christopher J. Williams is the founder, Chairman and CEO of The Williams Capital Group, a full service investment bank catering to institutional investors and corporate clients.

Christopher Williams founded the company in 1994, and under his leadership, The Williams Capital Group has grown to become the among the top 15 most active underwriters of corporate debt in the United States. n the early 2000s, the company

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Nigeria and South Africa - Africa’s powerhouses can reap many mutual benefits

By Dawn Nagar and Mark Paterson



As Africa’s two largest economies, Nigeria and South Africa could substantially enhance the continent’s development prospects — particularly if they work together more closely. South Africa, with a gross domestic product (GDP) last year of about US$368 billion, is Africa’s biggest economy, despite growth that is forecast to slow to less than 3 percent this year.

Meanwhile, the continent’s most populous nation, oil-rich Nigeria, overtook Egypt

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Haiti: Cholera heighten in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac

Just when Haiti thought it had cholera under control, Tropical Storm Isaac came along. The storm left at least 24 dead in Haiti, and reignited fears that the floods and rains could accelerate a peak in cholera deaths and infections. The deadly disease could spread to the sprawling tent cities in Haiti’s capital where 390,000 victims of the January 2010 earthquake still live.

Living conditions in many of the 575 camps have deteriorated to the point where Haitians remain extremely

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Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala not interested in WTO job

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. PHOTO/Yuri Gripas/Reuters

(Reuters) - Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is not interested in replacing Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) when the Frenchman steps down in a year's time, the finance ministry said on Thursday.

Okonjo-Iweala left her role as managing director of the World Bank last year to become the most high-profile member of President Goodluck Jonathan's cabinet in an expanded version of a role she held between

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Election 2012: Obama to take stage after Clinton pitch

U.S. President Barack Obama (l) joins former President Bill Clinton, after nominating speech. PHOTO/J. Scott Applewhite/AP

President Barack Obama goes before the Democratic National Convention and the nation on Thursday for a capstone speech designed not just to persuade undecided voters to swing his way in a tight election but to put fire in the belly of his supporters and get them to come out on Election Day.

Obama senior adviser David Plouffe promised the president would give voters

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

US Open 2012: Serena Williams advances to semis

Serena Williams serves during US Open 2012 quarterfinal against Ana Ivanovic. PHOTO/Charles Krupa/AP

Third-seeded Serena Williams served 12 aces in a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ana Ivanovic to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Open.


Williams, looking to add the title at Flushing Meadows to those she won at Wimbledon and the Olympics this year, has lost 16 games through her first five matches.

Against Ivanovic, fourth-seeded Williams faced only two break points and saved both.

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Arik Air: Nigerian father and son create and run West Africa's largest airline

Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide - founder and Chairman of Arik Air

Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide is the founder and Chairman of West Africa's largest airline, Arik Air - a company he founded in 2002.

Lagos-based Arik Air which began with a single Hawker jet aircraft, now boasts of a fleet of over 23 aircraft in service. Currently it has placed an order for 18 more airplanes (including 2 Boeing 747 jets). The airline has also become the national carrier of the neighboring country, Sierra

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