Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Hamstring injury forces Usain Bolt out of Jamaican meet

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. PHOTO/Joe Klamar/AFP

A hamstring strain suffered during training last weekend has forced Usain Bolt to withdraw from Saturday's Jamaica International Invitational meet, the superstar sprinter's manager said Tuesday.
Bolt, a double world-record holder and two-time defending 100- and 200-metres Olympic champion, won the 100 at the meet last year and was to run the 200 this time before what manager Ricky Simms called "a mild setback in training."

"I am

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Education in Perspective

By Christopher Duff


"Story Time: A young guy walks into a Best Buy, finds an associate and says ‘I want to purchase a us$5,000 TV’. The clerk asks ‘Ok no problem, any idea what brand?’ ‘Nope’ he replies. The clerk asks, ‘What purpose do you want the television for, to watch movies, tv shows, browse the Internet?’ He responds and says ‘I just want a really expensive TV, just so I can hold it, and say that I have a US$5,000 TV, I may never actually use it.’ He smiles. The

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Africa’s top 3 airports rank higher than any airports in the USA

Aerial view of the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg - South Africa. PHOTO/File

The World Airport Awards 2013 – recently released by Skytrax, a United Kingdom-based company specializing in airline and airport research – has ranked the top airports in the world, including those in Africa. The results show that South African airports take a considerable lead over other airports on the continent and, in some cases, the world.

According to Skytrax, over 12 million

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Increased investment fuels development boom in The Bahamas

(PRNewswire) - Resort property developments throughout The Bahamas have reported a huge boost in sales in the first quarter as investor confidence returns, with some developments expected to sell out by the summer.

Releasing its second phase due to overwhelming success, is the oceanfront Caves Heights condominiums in Nassau, where North American, Canadian and European investors are showing keen interest in the island nation's real estate.

"The Bahamas is experiencing a more aggressive

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Eli Marcus touts his BrokersPlayGround.com - A company that publishes an exclusive list of investors for minority entrepreneurs seeking funding

(Nationwide) - Atlanta, Georgia - African American Internet entrepreneur Eli Marcus is on a mission to build a strong and powerful Black America by promoting entrepreneurship and providing minorities with access to alternative solutions to find funding for their business projects.

His company BrokersPlayGround.com sells a list of 15,000 accredited investors, venture capital firms, funding groups, High net-worth execs, and business lenders.

The list contains updated contact information

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Earthquake of magnitude 5.3 strikes near St. Kitts & Nevis

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 has struck near St. Kitts & Nevis on Tuesday. There have been no immediate reports of death of damage on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) twin island-nation.

The U.S Geological Survey reported that the earthquake, which occurred at 02:53 local time (2:53 AM EST) and its epicenter was located at 17.48 degrees north and 62.14 degrees west. It had a depth of 49 kilometers (30.4 miles) and was felt in St. Kitts & Nevis, and the French speaking island of

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Cameroon: Peoples Democratic Party wins Senate election

The party of Cameroon's incumbent president Paul Biya won 56 of the 70 contested seats in the nation's first-ever senatorial election, the Supreme Court announced.

Supreme Court President Alexis Dipanda Mouelle said Monday that Biya's Cameroon Peoples' Democratic Party scored 73 percent of the vote, winning seats in eight of the country's 10 administrative regions. The opposition Social Democratic Front received 17 percent, with 14 seats in just two regions. The opposition has claimed

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Obama administration to unveil simplified health care form

The first draft was as mind-numbing and complex as tax forms. Now the Obama administration is unveiling a simplified application for health insurance benefits under the federal health care overhaul.

Details to be released Tuesday include a three-page short form that single people can fill out, administration officials said. Medicare chief Marilyn Tavenner, also overseeing the rollout of the health care law, called it "significantly shorter than industry standards."

The earlier draft

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Monday, April 29, 2013

Haiti looking to reverse deforestation - to plant 1.2 million trees in a single day

Haiti, one of the world’s most deforested countries, launches its first national tree-planting program in May this year. The Martelly administration government calls the effort “a big signal” that Haiti is determined to reverse environmental degradation and address one of the main causes of poverty on the island-nation.

Stripped of 98 percent of its trees, Haiti suffers deforestation’s impoverishing side effects, like soil erosion, poor agricultural productivity, and

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Dangote Cement enjoys rapid expansion - to double output to 55 million tons by 2015

Aliko Dangote. PHOTO/File

Dangote Cement Plc, Africa’s biggest producer of the building material, said it plans to more than double annual total output to 55 million metric tons by 2015, more than the 51 million forecast last year.

The target, up from current output of 20 million tons, is based on “visible projects in Africa.

The company, founded and owned by billionaire Chairman Aliko Dangote, plans to start output in Cameroon, Zambia and South Africa in 2014, while it expects

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Latest numbers indicate that African American voter turnout rate surpassed Whites in Nov 2012

American voters. PHOTO/John Gress/Getty Images

African Americans voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the White turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which African Americans strongly supported Barack Obama while many Whites stayed home.

Had people voted last November at the same rates they did in 2004, when the African American turnout was below its current historic levels, Republican Mitt

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Botswana: President Ian Khama attacked by cheetah

Botswana President Ian Khama

Botswana President Ian Khama has received two stitches in his face after being clawed by a cheetah, a government spokesman said Monday.

The incident occurred at a Botswana Defence Force barracks last week government spokesman Jeff Ramsay told reporters. "He was scratched by a Cheetah last week but not really attacked per se," Ramsay said.

The cheetah was being fed in an enclosure close to where Khama was standing and somehow managed to get its claw to

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx to be nominated by Obama as Transportation Secretary

Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, NC., addresses the Democratic National Convention, Sept. 4, 2012. PHOTO/J. Scott Applewhite/AP

U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday will nominate Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx as his new transportation secretary, a White House official said Sunday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Foxx would replace outgoing Secretary Ray LaHood.

The official insisted on anonymity to avoid public discussion of the pick before the official announcement.

The

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IMF forecasts strong growth for the Caribbean

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the Caribbean and African countries dubber "low-income countries" are among the fastest-growing economies in the world, but warn that many remain vulnerable to shocks and spill-overs from advanced and emerging markets.

“Low-income countries have worked to develop institutional capacity and build fiscal buffers that they were able to use during the crisis, and now, all the hard work has paid off,” said IMF Deputy Managing Director Min Zhu

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South Africa: National Union of Mineworkers to ask for double-digit increase in pay for miners

The National Union of Mineworkers, an ally of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, said it will ask for a double-digit increase in pay when negotiating with the Chamber of Mines in May.

The demand will apply across the mining industry, National Union of Mineworkers' Secretary-General Frans Baleni said by mobile phone today. “We will try to conclude the negotiations before July 1,” he said.

With industrywide wage talks looming, tensions between labor groups are

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UFC 159: Jon “Bones” Jones defeats Chael Sonnen in under a round - retains title

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones (c) at the pre-fight press conference with UFC president Dana White (l) and challenger Chael Sonnen (r). PHOTO/ Esther Lin/MMAFighting

Jon "Bones" Jones has defeated Chael Sonnen via TKO in the first round of the fight.

The referee stopped the fight at 4:44 of round one - Sonnen was at this point no longer defending himself from the persistent punches, knees and take downs delivered by Jones.

Jon Jones used his superior size and

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Caribbean Public Health Agency puts region on alert for H7N9 virus

The destruction of poulty suspected of carrying H7N9 Bird Flu virus. PHOTO/Reuters

The Caribbean Public Health Agency has put regional countries on alert for the Avian Influenza H7N9 virus, also known as bird flu, that has killed at least 20 people in China.

The H7N9 strain of avian influenza has been observed to spread far more easily from birds to humans than the previous H5N1 strain and is probably the most lethal flu viruses ever identified.

"The regional health agency has

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See Beyond The Dollar

By Christopher Duff



"Just an FYI, for those beginning to pursue their passion, don’t think you have to automatically start charging. Learn to capitalize on unpaid opportunities. Use freebies as an opportunity to perfect your craft and build connections. Yes it may be time consuming, but you need to think strategy. Consider the opportunities that you’re establishing for the future. Do what you love, and it will never seem like work. I can’t describe the amount of paid positions, job

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Peace finally returning to Sudan and South Sudan as rebels give up arms and in a thaw of relations

Several thousand former South Sudanese rebels have surrendered to the government and returned home from alleged rear bases in neighboring Sudan, government and rebel officials in the south said on Friday.

The South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), one of the largest rebel groups in the new country, and two other militia groups said they had accepted an amnesty offer from President Salva Kiir.

South Sudan's army said some 3,000 rebels crossed the border from Sudan where they were believed

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ASPiRE TV set to launch weekly talk series - "Exhale"

(Black PR Wire) – Atlanta, GA – ASPiRE today announced the start of production in Los Angeles on its new original weekly talk series, “Exhale.” Designed to bring honest, entertaining and candid discussion on a wide range of topics, “Exhale” is hosted by five dynamic, successful African-American women: journalist and media maven Angela Burt-Murray; actress and comedian Erin Jackson; director, writer and actress Issa Rae; blogger, author and TV anchor Rene Syler; and actress

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Nigeria Naira Falls to Month Low on Investors’ Oil Concerns

The Nigerian naira reached the lowest in more than a month as investors were said to slow purchases of Nigerian bonds after oil prices weakened and output in Africa’s top crude producer missed a forecast.

The currency of the continent’s most populous country depreciated 0.3 percent to 159.35 per US dollar by 12:18 p.m. in Lagos, the commercial capital, the lowest on an intraday basis since March 18. The naira has retreated 2 percent this year and is set for a third weekly decline,

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Grenada on track towards electricity sector liberalization

Public Utilities Minister Gregory Bowen has given an assurance that no effort will be spared in moving forward the process of liberalizing the electricity sector in Grenada.

The initiative is one that will also be undertaken by other OECS (Organization of East Caribbean States) member states.

In making his contribution to the 2013 Budget last Friday, Bowen said that US$1.4 million is earmarked from the World Bank to facilitate the liberalization of the electricity sector.

“I want

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Haiti: Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe re-affirms commitment to Universal Human Rights for all Haitians

Haiti Prime Minister., Laurent Lamothe

(PRNewswire) - In response to Amnesty International's reports of human rights violations regarding alleged forced evictions of individuals living in make-shift [displaced persons] camps, Haiti's Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, has issued the following official statement to set the record straight.

"First, I want to categorically state that Haiti is committed to protecting the human rights of all Haitians. Since taking office, the

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Africa's influential women participating in the continents' growth

(PRNewswire) - The role of Africa's leading women-such as Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mamphele Ramphele and others, is steadily growing across the continent.

The fact that Africa is fast becoming one of the world's most important investment destinations is universally acknowledged. The US and emerging economic powerhouses such as China and India are increasing trade and investment in Africa whose economy grew five per cent in 2012 - according to the 2013 Economic Report on Africa. Traditionally

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NAACP hits out at the North Carolina legislature on voter ID bill

Press Release


Washington DC - The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) released the following statements in response to the NC House Vote on House Bill 589. The bill was passed 81-36 and will move to the Senate.

Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP:

“The North Carolina legislature put partisan politics over democracy,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “The strict voter ID bill that passed the House will

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Obama joins four ex-presidents for dedication of Bush library

U.S. President Barack Obama stands with former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, at the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, April 25, 2013. PHOTO/Lawrence Jackson/White House

In what President Barack Obama called “a special day for our democracy,” the nation’s former living presidents gathered with the current commander in chief to honor one of their own at Thursday’s dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential

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Amb. Courtney Rattray appointed Jamaica's Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Ambassador Courtney Rattray. PHOTO/JIS

Ambassador Courtney Rattray has been appointed Jamaica's new Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Rattray has been serving as the island-nation's ambassador the People’s Republic of China since 2008. He has also served as the non-resident Ambassador to Vietnam, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Laos, and the non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Singapore and Pakistan.

Rattray brings to this position

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Deal Breakers in the Digital Age

While the U.S. Federal Reserve prints the greenback with what some may refer to as feverish abandon; and much as this may, in negative extremity, lead to devaluation of the American currency, profligacy is, probably, the last thing on either Mr. Bernanke or Mr. Obama's mind. But in this age of austerity; in an epoch where a country's leaders must show some sort of moderation, Yoweri Museveni is, as a result of his latest public relations debacle, more synonymous with 'generous' monarchs than

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Nigeria on track towards power utility privatization

Power pylons in Nigeria

(Reuters) - The Goodluck Jonathan administration in Nigeria accepted deposits by bidders for 15 state electricity assets on Monday, a milestone in a privatization process meant to end decades of power blackouts.

A signing ceremony at the presidential residence came a month after the bidders for 10 generation companies and five distribution companies paid deposits of 25 percent of the value of their bids.

Power companies will now negotiate terms to complete

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South Africa: Anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu hospitalized

Anti-apartheid activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu – PHOTO/Martin Meissner/AP

A South African foundation says retired archbishop Desmond Tutu has checked into a Cape Town hospital for treatment of a persistent infection.

The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate will undergo tests to discover the cause of the infection.

The foundation says 81-year-old Tutu spent Wednesday morning in his office before going to the hospital and was in good

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Former Lt. Gov. of Florida Jennifer Carroll set to head largest woman-owned small arms manufacturer in the United States

Former Lt. Gov. of Florida Jennifer Carroll. PHOTO/Devon Ravine/AP

Jennifer Carroll Will Become President and Chief Operating Officer After Completion of Planned Merger with Airtronic USA, Inc. - the Largest Woman-Owned Small Arms Manufacturer in the United States

(PRNewswire) - Palm Beach, Florida - Global Digital Solutions, a company that is positioning itself as a leader in providing knowledge-based and culturally attuned social consulting and security-related solutions in

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Michael Lee-Chin's Portland Investment Counsel Inc., to acquire additional stake in Columbus Communications

Michael Lee-Chin, Executive Chairman and CEO of Portland Investment Counsel Inc. PHOTO/Zuma Press/Newscom

Portland Investment Counsel Inc., an Investment Fund Manager, is in the process of acquiring additional shareholding in Columbus Communications - the parent company for the Caribbean regions' Flow telecommunications network.

Portland Investment Counsel Inc., is and will remain a minority share holder in Columbus Communications - the acquisition of more shares will not provide it

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Ethiopian Airlines to become world's first carrier to resume Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. IMAGE/Boeing

(Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines is set to become the world's first carrier to resume flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger jets, with a commercial flight on Saturday to neighboring Kenya, two airline sources said.

Boeing's Dreamliners have been grounded since regulators ordered all 50 planes out of the skies in mid-January after batteries on two of them overheated. U.S. regulators approved a new battery design on Friday,

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African American Leadership Council set to oppose senate immigration bill

(PRNewswire-USNewswire) - Washington DC - On Wednesday morning, April 24 at 9am, the African American Leadership Council will host a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, to oppose the Senate Gang of Eight's 844-page plus, immigration bill. During the conference, the Council will call on the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), to protect black labor by opposing amnesty and halting efforts to double legal immigration levels, as required under the bill.

Many black

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Kenya: Newly inaugurated Kenyatta nominates technocrats to his cabinet

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (l) with his deputy William Ruto (r) as he makes his cabinet nominations announcement. PHOTO/Billy Mutai

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta made his first nominations to cabinet since assuming office this month and recommended Finance Ministry official Henry Rotich to lead the Kenyan treasury.

Kenyatta’s appointments, which require the approval of lawmakers, are the first under a 2010 constitution which removed a requirement that cabinet members must be

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Caribbean-based data hosting company, Secure Hosting, launches its 2nd data center in the Bahamas

(PRNewswire) - Secure Hosting, a data hosting company that provides secure dedicated servers for offshore hosting has opened a second data center in the Caribbean region to serve a growing need for clients around the world.

The Freeport location is the company's second data center in Bahamas making it the only hosting company in the Caribbean or Latin America to offer fully redundant hosting solutions. Secure Hosting also has data centers in Nassau and in Hamilton, Bermuda.

"There

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President Obama not hurt; White House not attacked - Hacked twitter AP account sends false message

U.S. President Obama waves as he leaves the White House. PHOTO/AP

President Barack Obama is not injured and there have not been explosions at the White House.

The false message sent from the hacked twitter account belonging to the Associated Press, claimed there had been explosions at the White House and that the president had been injured.

The impact of the false message resulted in the Dow Jones industrial average dropped about 130 points, around 1 percent - however, it rebounded

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Bharti Airtel moves to acquire Warid Telecom Uganda

Bharti Airtel, India's largest mobile telecom operator revealed Tuesday that it t has entered into a definitive agreement with United Arab Emirates-based Warid Group to acquire Warid Telecom Uganda, strengthening its footprint in the African region.

This will consolidate Bharti Airtel as the second largest mobile operator in Uganda with a combined customer base of approximately 7.5 million and market share of over 39 percent.

Bharti Airtel entered the African market in 2010 after

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Chris Gayle sets new record for fastest Twenty20 century in history

Jamaica's Chris Gayle, celebrates his century against the Pune Warriors at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium. PHOTO/PTI

West Indies opener Chris Gayle has set a new record for the fastest century in the history of professional cricket playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League, Tuesday.

Gayle smashed an astonishing ton off just 30 balls, battering the Pune Warriors bowling attack in an innings that included seven dot balls, four singles, eight

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African American Interns Wanted For 2013 White House Internship Program

Press Release

The 2013 White House Initiative's Year-round Internship Program provides current undergraduate and graduate students with an opportunity to learn about African American-focused education policy, communications, and outreach at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Collecting and compiling research and data on African American education, institutions and communities; Performing data entry and managing the

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Joint force of Nigeria, Niger and Chad tackle Boko Haram militants

(Reuters) - A joint assault involving forces from Nigeria, Chad and Niger was assembled after intelligence that Islamist militants Boko Haram had moved into Baga, a fishing town in northeast Nigeria on the shores of Lake Chad, on the Chadian border and close to Niger, Nigeria's military said.

There has been no confirmation of the death toll as a result of the fighting on Friday, however, a Nigerian military source said dozens may have died. The Nigerian Red Cross said they were trying to

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Monday, April 22, 2013

J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year award

J.R.Smith of the New York Knicks PHOTO/File

J.R. Smith of New York Knicks has won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

Smith received 484 points, including 72 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 writers and broadcasters. The Clippers’ Jamal Crawford finished second with 352 points, getting 31 first-place votes.

Smith averaged 18.1 points in 80 games, all off the bench. He had 29 games in which he scored 20 points as a reserve, tying Crawford for the NBA lead.

Smith

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Update: Construction of Konza Techno City to transform Kenya into major tech hub

Artistic Impression of the Konza Techno City. IMAGE/File

Kenya gave the world two groundbreaking innovations in technology: M-Pesa, a mobile banking system, and Ushahidi, a platform for crowdsourcing information during disasters. It is now taking its technological talents to new heights.

The east African nation of Kenya has just started construction on a 5,000-acres piece of land in Konza, about 60 km south of Nairobi, to turn the savannah area into "the most modern city in

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Haiti: Human rights groups seek to hold U.N works accountable

Human rights groups in Haiti are demanding the United Nations be held more accountable after a Canadian police officer who was suspected of sexually assaulting a Haitian woman then left the country.

The man was one of more than 80 Canadian police officers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The alleged assault took place last February. The day after the incident, the man boarded a flight back to Canada, where he remains.

Marie Rosy Kesner Auguste Ducena,

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NAACP calls for protests of GOP initiatives in North Carolina

The president of the North Carolina NAACP is calling for religious leaders to organize non-violent protests to bring attention to what he considers a Republican crusade against poor and minority residents.

William Barber urged leaders Monday to take action against the GOP supermajority in the state legislature, but he did not announce specific plans to demonstrate against a voter ID bill expected in the House on Wednesday.

The bill that would require voters to present photo

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Africa now in a position to add to global growth

Africa, with its improved economies, can contribute to global growth for the first time in history, African finance ministers said on Saturday in Washington.

"Africa is the continent that will allow us to overcome the slowdown in growth" in the rest of the world, said Cameroon's finance minister, Alamine Ousmane Mey, at a news conference during the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank spring meetings.

The continent, home to nearly a billion people, has significant natural

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Trinidad & Tobago: Jack Warner resigns as National Security Minister

Austin "Jack" Warner

Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Sunday night announced that her embattled National Security Minister Austin “Jack” Warner has resigned less than 72 hours after the publication of a report by the CONCACAF Integrity Committee that had been very critical of the former international football boss.

“I have today accepted the resignation of the Minister of National Security Mr. Jack Warner from the Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad &

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

PriceCheck - South African App of the Moment

PriceCheck - South African App of the Moment

South African mobile shopping app, PriceCheck, has been selected from all BlackBerry apps worldwide as one of three finalists for the coveted International BlackBerry app of the year.

Conceptualized, developed and released in South Africa, the PriceCheck app offers shoppers access to prices and reviews of millions of products; choice out of thousands of categories and direct access to hundreds of on- and offline stores.

A barcode scanner,

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Obama to visit Africa - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

A younger Barack Obama with his grandmother during his first trip to Africa to visit the family of his father, Barack Obama, Sr. PHOTO/Maya Soetoro-Ng

The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced Wednesday in remarks to a congressional committee that President Barack Obama will be travelling to Africa.

Kerry offered no specifics or details regarding the timing and itinerary of the trip.

The announcement comes as concerns grow in Washington about China's role in sub-Saharan

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Serena and Venus Williams help give the US a victory over Sweden in Fed Cup

Serena Williams in action against Sofia Arvidsson, of Sweden, during a Fed Cup World Group tennis match, Sunday, April 21, 2013. PHOTO/Richard Graulich/AP

Venus and Serena Williams lifted the USA past Sweden and back into the main Fed Cup World Group on Sunday.

First, top-ranked Serena defeated Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-1 to give the USA a 2-1 lead, then Venus Williams clinched an insurmountable 3-1 lead with a 6-3, 7-5 win against Johanna Larsson.

Venus, ranked 22nd in the world, was

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Association of Caribbean States summit to be held in Haiti, April 23-26

Haiti, which earlier this year hosted the “historic” summit of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders, is getting ready to host another major summit this month, informed sources have said.

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) summit is scheduled for April 23-26 and according to the sources, the four day event will allow for discussions on strengthening regional cooperation so as to deal with the socio-economic problems facing the Greater Caribbean.

The summit will be held

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Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia wins London Marathon

Tsegaye Kebede Tsegaye of Ethiopia raises his arms in victory as he crosses the finish line to win the men's London Marathon, Sunday, April 21, 2013. PHOTO/Alastair Grant/AP

Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede and Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya triumphed at a sombre London Marathon on Sunday, as runners paid tribute to the victims of the deadly bomb attacks at the Boston Marathon.

Kebede hunted down 2011 champion Emmanuel Mutai to win the men's race, while Jeptoo surged to victory in the women's event,

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Friday, April 19, 2013

St. Lucia: Industrial action by civil servants ends - wage freeze accepted

Civil Servants have ended their battle with government for a 9.5 percent wage increase, with a stunning decision to settle for a wage freeze.

After an extra-ordinary meeting Wednesday most of the over 400 members of the civil service association voted in favor of a 0 percent wage proposal.

The decision to forgo the increase followed the President's report that the government’s negotiating team was sticking to 4 percent as its final wage offer, in addition to refusing the requested

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Brigadier Gen. Nadja West promoted to Major General - will become first African American two-star general in the United States Army Medical Command

Brigadier Gen. Nadja West (pictured), deputy chief of staff, for the United States Army Medical Command will be promoted to Major General.

This promotion will make West the first African American two-star general in the United States Army Medical Command.

Gen. West, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with a bachelor of science in engineering and attended the George Washington University School of Medicine, where she earned a Doctorate of Medicine degree.

She completed an

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Anti malaria soap creation earns 2 African students $25,000 innovation award

Students Gérard Niyondiko (l) and Moctar Dembélé

Two African students, Gérard Niyondiko and Moctar Dembélé have won the US$25,000 Global Social Venture Competition award for their creation of a malaria repellant soap using local herbs.

Malaria is a deadly mosquito-borne disease that affects millions each year in Africa and around the world. According to figures from the World Health Organization, malaria costs an estimated US$12 billion in lost productivity in Africa per year

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Obama to take executive action on gun background check system following Senate vote

U.S. President Barack Obama with Vice President Joseph Biden and relatives of gun violence victims. PHOTO/Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Blocked by Congress from expanding gun sale background checks, President Obama is turning to actions within his own power to keep people from buying a gun who are prohibited for mental health reasons.

Federal law bans certain mentally ill people from purchasing firearms, but not all states are providing data to stop the prohibited sales to the FBI's

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Jamaica: Budget focuses on job creation, economic growth - no new taxes

The Jamaica government has presented a J$521 billion (US$5.21 billion) tax free budget to parliament with Finance Minister Dr. Peter Phillips indicating that the aim of the Simpson-Miller administration is to collect outstanding taxes and remove some distortions such as zero-rated electricity charges.

“You will note and no doubt the other members will note that this administration has presented a fully funded budget, there are no new taxes in this budget,” he told legislators on

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Chase The Knowledge, Not The Degree

By Christopher Duff


Forward by Ryan Elcock

If you were to ask someone what my greatest gift is, I am sure they would tell you that I have an iron will. I am not known for giving up or giving in and I always strive to overcome obstacles no matter how long it takes. However, I can say with utmost certainty that many would say that my second gift is that I strive to learn even from my failures. As I always believed that failure can sometimes be a better teacher than defeat, it is no

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Jamaica: Herbert Thompson names Electoral Commission chairman

The chancellor of the University College of the Caribbean, Dr. Herbert Thompson has been appointed he new chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica.

Thompson replaces Errol Miller who stepped down in November last year.

He has served as the Electoral Advisory Committee and subsequently and has been a tertiary institution administrator for the last 20

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African American TV network - Soul Of The South Network launches May 27

(Press Release) - Soul Of The South Network - a 24-hour regional broadcast network targeting African American viewers in the South, and key Northern and mid-West "sister cities," will launch in 30 markets on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27, 2013.

The launch comes following a US$10 million infusion from a group of institutional investors and individuals including, Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA); Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC); Arkansas Capital Corporation

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Nigerian regulator lifts capital market ban on Ecobank

(Reuters) - Nigeria's stock market regulator said on Thursday it had lifted a suspension on Ecobank from capital market activities, imposed last month because of irregularities surrounding a margin loan.

"The suspension on Ecobank has been lifted ... they can now participate in capital market activities," Securities and Exchange Commission spokesman, Yakubu Olaleye, said.

Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission said an Ecobank client Arian Capital Management had used

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Usain Bolt confirmed to run in London Anniversary Games

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. PHOTO/Joe Klamar/AFP

It has been confirmed that Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt will compete in the London Anniversary Games from 26 to 28 July, along with 28 other medallists from last year's Olympics.

Bolt won three gold medals at London 2012 Olympic games , in the 100m, 200m and as part of the 4x100m relay team.

The event will double as the 2013 London Grand Prix, which usually takes place at Crystal Palace, and will be held on Friday and Saturday, followed

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U.S. Surgeon General., Regina Benjamin to deliver commencement address at Spelman College

The United States Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, will deliver the commencement address to the Spelman College class of 2013 at the schools graduation ceremony scheduled to take place on May 19.

Ms. Benjamin will also be awarded an honorary degree.

“As an accomplished medical professional whose top concern is the health and wellness of the nation and American citizens abroad, Dr. Benjamin is an exemplary role model for Spelman students,” said President Beverly Daniel Tatum,

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Nigeria: President Jonathan creates panel to offer amnesty to Boko Haram

Nigeria has formed a panel that will create an amnesty program for the al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram extremists to quell a bloody terrorist campaign of bombings and shootings that has killed hundreds of people across its north, the government said Wednesday.

The 26-person panel, created by President Goodluck Jonathan, has a 60-day deadline to come up with an offer for militants who have killed civilians with apparent impunity.

The panel is composed mostly of people from Nigeria's mainly

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Remittances to Africa from the diaspora surpass traditional western aid

Africans are helping themselves more than aid workers are, according to new research.

Analysis of cash flows by Hong Kong-based Ghanaian academic Adams Bodomo shows that Africans living outside the continent send more money home to their families than is sent by traditional Western aid donors in what is called Official Development Assistance (ODA).

In 2010 - the most recent year for which meaningful comparisons can be made, according to Mr Bodomo - the African diaspora remitted

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U.S. Secret Service intercepts suspicious letter to Obama

U.S. President Obama pauses as he remarks on Boston bombings, April 15, 2013. PHOTO/Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The U.S. Secret Service has intercepted a letter addressed to President Barack Obama that contained a "suspicious substance."

A law enforcement official said the letter is very similar to one recently mailed to Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker. That letter tested positive Tuesday for poisonous ricin.

The official requested anonymity because the official was not

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Hamstring injury setback for Yohan Blake - will be out for 6 weeks

Yohan Blake in action during his 200m semi-final at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. PHOTO/Ben Curtis/AP

World 100 metres champion Yohan Blake has been sidelined for six weeks after medical reports raised concern about an injury sustained at an event in Jamaica last weekend.

Blake pulled up clutching his right hamstring in the 100m last Saturday at the UTech Classic, while trailing eventual winner Kim Collins at the 50 meter mark.

Blake’s injury was originally thought to be a

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Colorectal cancer: Access to regular screening and treatment eliminates racial disparities in rates of survival between whites and African Americans

(Black PR Wire) - A new report shows that an aggressive, state-wide effort to provide African Americans with colorectal cancer screening and treatment eliminated long-standing disparities in survival between blacks and whites with the disease. The program may offer a model for how other states can help more African Americans access potentially life-saving cancer care.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., with over 102,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Yet it

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Africa to maintain solid growth in 2013 and 2014 - IMF

The changing fortunes of Africa has become a theme of investment conferences, magazine covers, and the just concluded summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc of emerging economies held in Durban, South Africa.

Economies in sub-Saharan Africa will ride out the bumpy global recovery in the next few years to post growth rates not seen outside Asia, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its latest economic forecasts Tuesday.

The IMF's latest World

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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Profile: Sundra L. Ryce - Founder, President and CEO of SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc.

Sundra L. Ryce - Founder, President and CEO of SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc.

Sundra L. Ryce is the founder, President and CEO of SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc.

Ms. Ryce founded the company - SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc., in 1996 shortly after she graduated from college.

According to the company's website, SLR Contracting & Service Co. Inc., is a full service Commercial, General Construction Company specializes in all aspects of commercial general construction,

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Mobile money use in Africa results in increased revenue for utility companies

An Oxford University study has revealed how the use mobile technology in Africa has dramatically increased the amount of money that water utility companies actually receive from the customers they bill.

According to World Bank data, water utility companies across Africa had been losing around US $500 million a year due to ineffective billing and petty corruption.

The study shows how the amount paid by customers in Tanzania rose by between 5 percent and 69 percent in 2011 after mobile

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Moody's upgrades Belize credit rating to stable

(Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service on Monday raised Belize's government bond rating to Caa2 from Ca, citing better government liquidity after a debt restructuring.

"The upgrade balances an improvement in the government's liquidity position following a pre-emptive restructuring of its external commercial debt against a debt overhang that was not cured by the default and continues to impair Belize's credit solvency," Moody's said in a statement.

The outlook is stable. Standard &

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Magic Johnson to lead powerhouse line-up of CEOs at entrepreneurs conference in May

Earvin "Magic" Johnson. PHOTO/File

(PRNewswire) - BLACK ENTERPRISE will hold its 2013 Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide Insurance on Wednesday, May 15, at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, with a powerhouse line-up of some of the nation's most accomplished and celebrated entrepreneurs.

Kicking off the conference: Magic Johnson Enterprises Chairman and CEO Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who will share business insights and the secrets of his entrepreneurial

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Boston Marathon bombings: No unexploded bombs found - Gov. Deval Patrick

Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick speaks in Boston Marathan bombing aftermath. PHOTO/Elise Amendola/AP

Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick has said that no unexploded bombs were found at the Boston Marathon. He says the only explosives were the ones that went off Monday.

Three people were killed, including an 8-year-old boy, and more than 150 injured by two explosions just seconds apart near the finish line.

Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers says at a news

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Ghana: 17 miners killed in Gold mine collapse

Authorities say 17 people are dead after an accident at a gold mine in central Ghana.

Local official Peter Kofi Owusu-Ashia told The Associated Press on Tuesday that 20 others had been rescued Monday afternoon.

Owusu-Ashia said authorities did not believe that anyone remained trapped inside the area but he said efforts would resume Tuesday at the site.

The deaths happened in Kyekyewere, in the central region of Ghana.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, and

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Jamaica market important to Caribbean Airlines - Trinidad & Tobago

In a bid to reduce the fallout from Jamaica's possible withdrawal of the Air Jamaica brand from Caribbean Airlines, Trinidad & Tobago has said that it has not sought to downplay the importance of the Jamaica market.

Caribbean Airlines is set to reduce the number of daily flights to Jamaica effective today.

Trinidad & Tobago Trade and Industry Minister Vasant Bharath told the Caribbean Media Corporation that a number of issues, including load factors, had caused the carrier to

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Dangote ventures into oil - to build refinery worth $8 billion

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

Aliko Dangote, has announced plans to construct an US$8 billion refinery in Nigeria later this year.

The proposed refinery will be the first private refinery in Nigeria, owned and operated by a Nigerian.

Dangote made the announcement last week in Lagos during a breakfast meeting with some

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Monday, April 15, 2013

Donna A. James to step down as National Women's Business Council chairperson

Donna A. James

(PRNewswire-USNewswire) - The National Women's Business Council, a leading independent voice for women entrepreneurs, announced today that Donna A. James will step down from her post as chairperson.

James was appointed by President Obama to serve as chair of National Women's Business Council in October of 2010. In this role she helped build an engaged, informed group of women business owners to serve as a full council with the appetite and expertise to focus on finding

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Jamaica considering withdrawal of Air Jamaica brand from Caribbean Airlines

The government in Jamaica is threatening to withdraw the Air Jamaica brand from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines following widespread reports here that the carrier would be reducing the number of daily flight to Jamaica.

Last week Caribbean Airlines Communications Manager Clint Williams confirmed media that the airline would be cutting back on the number of flights to Jamaica, effective April 16.

Jamaica's transport Minister Dr. Omar Davis said the decision by the cash-strapped

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Obama on Boston Marathon explosions: "We will get to the bottom of this, and we will find out who did this, we'll find out why they did this."

U.S. President Obama pauses as he remarks on Boston bombings. PHOTO/Mark Wilson/Getty Images

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama vowed on Monday that the United States will find out who carried out explosions in Boston and will hold them accountable, and a White House official said the twin blasts are being treated as an "act of terror."

"We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts," Obama said in a televised

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Global Founders Capital launches new fund to benefit East Africa's tech entrepreneurs

App developers at work in Nairobi, Kenya. PHOTO/File

East Africa's tech entreprenuers have a new opportunity for fundraising following the launch of a US$196 million fund by Global Founders Capital, a global technology fund, which is considering investments in Africa.

The new fund joins other funds — Savannah Fund, DEMO Africa Investor Roundtable and 88mph — which are focused on technology enterprises and finance tech entreprenuers in East Africa.

The fund will target companies

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NBA star Dorell Wright partners with United Negro College Fund to create KB3 Scholarship Fund

Dorell Wright

Dorell Wright who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA has partnered with the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) through his own organization, The D Wright Way Foundation, to create the KB3 (Khelcey Barrs III,) Scholarship Fund.

The KB3 Scholarship Fund will be used to assist graduating high school students who face financial difficulties in attaining a post secondary education.

The KB3 scholarship was was officially launched just before the start of

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The Bahamas: Property owners given tax amnesty

The Bahamas is providing a tax amnesty to property owners ahead of the June 30 deadline.

The Christie administration says effective immediately, the Real Property Tax Amnesty Program could save home owners up to 50 percent of the taxes owed to government if they make arrangements with the assessment team.

The Bahamas government has not given any indication as to how much money is owed to it by tax payers.

According at the Chief Evaluation Officer and Controller of Inland Revenue,

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The season of Africa

By Tolu Ogunlesi


Africa is all the rage these days. Every week, it seems there’s yet another Africa conference somewhere outside the continent – investors, bankers, journalists diplomats and academics falling over themselves to celebrate a continent once famous for its unremittingly awful news.

Africa, it seems, has come a long way from when Anthony Daniels wrote that “Africa is so technically backward that it would be cheaper to ship things from Mars than to produce them on the

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Kobe Bryant has surgery to repair ruptured Achilles tendon - facing long recovery

An injured Kobe Bryant. PHOTO/Mark J. Terrill/AP

The surgery to repair Kobe Bryant's achilles tendon was successful, however, doctors have indicated that he may not be able to play for six to nine months.

Bryant had scored 34 points while playing much of the second half against the Warriors in pain with an injured left leg, and eventually his team, the Lakers held on to a 118-116 win over the Warriors on Friday night.

Bryant, has dealt with injuries in the past, but never one as

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Jamaican scientist, Lawrence Williams develops assay that eliminates the need for animal testing during dev't of anti-inflammatory drugs

Dr. Lawrence Williams. PHOTO/Scientific Research Council Of Jamaica

Jamaican researcher, Dr. Lawrence Williams has figured out a way that eliminates the need for laboratory testing of animals in the development of anti-inflammatory drugs with the development of his Bovine Serum Albumin assay.

The Bovine Serum Albumin is a protein derived from the blood of cattle, purified into a solid form which can respond like a living tissue when exposed to heat.

It is expected that this

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Somalia: Death toll rises in deadly al-Shabaab attack on supreme court

A barrage of bullets and two car bomb blasts rattled Mogadishu on Sunday when nine al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab Islamic extremists stormed Somalia's main court complex, officials said, in a two-hour attack that shows the country's most dangerous militant group may be down but not defeated.

A preliminary death toll stood at 16, including all nine attackers has now risen to 20. The government didn't immediately publicize the number of security forces, government employees and civilians who

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Friday, April 12, 2013

Robin Kelly sworn in, replaces Jesse Jackson Jr., in congress

Robin Kelly, (c) in a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony with House Speaker John Boehner. PHOTO/Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Former Illinois state Rep. Robin Kelly was sworn in Thursday as the newest member of the House, taking over the seat held for 17 years by scandal-tarnished Jesse Jackson Jr.

Kelly, in remarks made after House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, administered the oath of office, stressed her commitment to combating gun violence, passing immigration reform, creating jobs and

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Howard University holds top rank among HBCUs for Peace Corps

Howard University in Washington, D.C. , holds the top rank for Peace Corps volunteer-producing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with 21 undergraduate alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers and 204 alumni having served overseas since 1961.

Morehouse College is second with eight and Spelman College is third with five.

Peace Corps volunteers spend 27 months abroad working in education, health community economic development, environment, youth in development or

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America's Lost Opportunities in Africa

Over the next few weeks, various U.S. based bodies - Brookings Institution, Woodrow Wilson Center and the Corporate Council for Africa - will emerge with reports and recommendations to the Obama Administration. Each of these reports will have three things in common: First, 6 of the world's fastest growing economies are in Africa; Second, China and other countries like those of the European Union, India and even Brazil are taking advantage of the lucrative opportunities and resources that

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Sudan President Omar al-Bashir visits South Sudan for first time since the secession of the south

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir arrived in South Sudan on Friday for the first time since Africa's once-largest country split in 2011, raising cautious hopes the two adversaries may be edging toward establishing peaceful co-existence.

The neighbors agreed in March to resume cross-border oil flows and take steps to defuse the tension that has plagued them since South Sudan's independence in July 2011 following a treaty which ended decades of civil war.

Bashir had planned to

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Haiti: Communications Minister, Regine Godefroy resigns, 2nd cabinet member to quit in 2 days

Regine Godefroy

Haiti's communications minister has resigned from her post, becoming the second Cabinet member to step down in as many days, media outlets reported Thursday.

Privately owned Radio Tele-Kiskeya and Radio Tele-Metropole said that Communications Minister Regine Godefroy had quit, citing an unnamed source. Neither outlet said why she was leaving.

Godefroy was named to the communications job in January, part of a second shake up by Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe since he

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Nigeria Football Federation withdraws team from Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

A victorious Nigeria team lifts the Africa Cup of Nations Trophy in February this year. PHOTO/European Pressphoto Agency

Nigeria's soccer governing body, the Nigeria Football Federation has withdrawn its team from the 2014 African Nations Championship qualifiers due to financial constraints.

Nigeria were set to play Ivory Coast in Calabar between 21-23 June, in the tournament for locally-based players.

The Nigeria Football Federation's Emeka Inyama announced that the withdrawal was

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Russell Simmons launches digital marketing company - Narrative

Russell Simmons

Serial entrepreneur Russell Simmons, has launched a digital marketing, entertainment and technology company, with business partner Tricia Clarke-Stone.

The name of the company - Narrative.

Simmons has in the past successfully launched, run and grown numerous businesses including hip-hop label Def Jam and fashion brand Phat Pharm to name a few.

Narrative touts itself as a company that provides marketing solutions for publishers, agencies and brands. Its purpose is

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Caribbean Airlines to cut back on Jamaica flights

Latest reports indicate that the Trinidad & Tobago carrier - Caribbean Airlines will be reducing on the number of flights to Jamaica and major US gateways such as New York and Florida.

The reduction in flights has been confirmed by the head of communications at Caribbean Airlines, Clint Williams, who revealed that the cuts become effective on April 16.

The reduction on flights is expected to impact Jamaica negatively - considering that Caribbean Airlines was in the process of

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Update: Reverse brain drain from Europe to Africa widens as more Portuguese flock to Mozambique

In 1975, just after Mozambique had won its independence from Portugal after a bitter struggle, a quarter of a million Portuguese colonialist settlers left the country. Fearful for their lives, but also without prospect of a livelihood, the mother country - Portugal, was a safer bet.

Now, nearly 40 years later, the flow is reversing.

With Portugal staggering economically, many now see the country's former colony as holding out more prospects than home.

Businessman Paulo Dias tells a

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Obama Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal to kick start deficit-reduction talks

U.S. President Barack Obama discusses the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget while acting Director of Office of Management and Budget Jerry Zients looks on. PHOTO/Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama proposed a US$3.77 trillion budget on Wednesday that combines controversial cuts to social safety net programs with tax increases on the wealthy in a package the White House hopes will jumpstart deficit-reduction talks.

The proposal, an annual attempt to identify and fund the president's

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Haiti: Minister of Finance, Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie, resigns

Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie

(Reuters) - Haiti's Minister of Economy and Finances Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie resigned abruptly on Wednesday, citing a lack of cooperation from her cabinet colleagues regarding her attempts to clean up public finances.

"I can battle against adversity or against external hazards that regularly hit our country, but not against the lack of solidarity of my own peers," she wrote in her resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by reporters.

Jean-Marie

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Elite Lifestyle Investments partners with RE/MAX Infinte to buy and sell real estate on both sides of the border

(Businesswire) - Miami-based Elite Lifestyle Investments partners with RE/MAX Infinite to invest in real estate in both the United States and Canada. Elite Lifestyle Investments is a real estate investment corporation that provides consultation as well as management for clients with a real estate investment portfolio in the USA.

RE/MAX Infinite is a Canadian Brokerage comprised of top producing Real Estate Agents whom are a part of RE/MAX LLC (International) with over 90,000 Agents in 65

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Mentorship Marketplace, an online tool connects African entrepreneurs with mentors

Founder network group - VC4Africa, has launched a peer-to-peer online platform where African entrepreneurs can link up with prospective global business experts.

The platform known as the Mentorship Marketplace will provide entrepreneurs with tools, support and information regarding how to grow their businesses in Africa with the help of a pool of dedicated mentors.

According to to VC4Africa, business experts and leaders on the Mentorship Marketplace dedicate their time, expertise,

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African American investors optimistic about financial future, economy - Wells Fargo Survey

African American investors report high levels of confidence in their financial future, along with optimism about the political and economic future of the country, according to a recent Wells Fargo nationwide survey. Despite proactive planning and intentional cuts in spending, African American investors remain focused on day-to-day living expenses, with a large majority concerned about having enough money to retire.

Three in five, 60 percent, African American investors express

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Barbados economy contracts 0.4% during first quarter of 2013

The Central Bank of Barbados Tuesday said that the local economy contracted by 0.4 percent in the first three months of 2013 and urged the authorities to put “back on track” the fiscal consolidation strategy as well as a new medium term adjustment strategy to turn around the island’s economic fortunes.

In its review of the Barbados economic performance fore the first quarter of this year, the Central bank said that on current trends there may be no real increase in the contribution

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East Africa becomes viable natural gas source as Tanzania looks to double output by 2015

(Bloomberg Businessweek) - Tanzania sees natural gas reserves more than doubling by early 2015 from the 40 trillion cubic feet discovered, as the east African country prepares to offer new exploration blocks as early as September this year.

“We have enormous amounts of gas,” Energy and Minerals Minister Sospeter Muhongo said in an interview yesterday. “We are now at 40 trillion cubic feet and I’m sure in the next two years we should be at more than a 100 trillion cubic

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Caribbean Open Data hackathon conference to unveil software apps begins April 11 at Mona Campus, UWI

The Caribbean Open Data Conference is a regional technology conference and code sprint, focused on open data, software innovation, and technology trends. It is the largest technology conference in the region. The event combines a two day conference with a 24-hour code sprint, in which teams of developers compete to build solutions to social problems using open data.

In 2012 the conference was branded “Developing The Caribbean” to highlight the focus on Open Data as a catalyst for

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Venture Capital index reveals that African private equity funds outperformed US venture capital

Private equity funds in Africa posted an 11.2 percent annualized return for the past 10 years ending September 30, 2012. African private equity funds have outperformed U.S. Venture capital in the same period.

This was revealed by private investment global monitor Cambridge Associates and the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA).

The Cambridge Associates LLC African Private Equity and Venture Capital Index which was launched Tuesday at the AVCA 10th Annual conference in Cape

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Morgan State University wins Honda Campus All-Star Challenge academic championships

(Black PR Wire) – Torrance, CA – After two days of intense competition among 250 students representing 48 competing teams, Morgan State University claimed its second National Championship title in a row at the 24th Annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), an annual academic event featuring the best and brightest students from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Enduring a year-long program of study and preparation, the Morgan State University

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St Kitts & Nevis: Political crisis widens as opposition lawmakers boycott budget presentation

Opposition legislators Tuesday boycotted the presentation of the national budget insisting that the long tabled vote of no confidence in the Dr. Denzil Douglas administration be debated.

“We the majority of Elected Representatives in the National Assembly of St. Kitts & Nevis will not participate in the debate of the 2013 Budget,” the six opposition legislators, including former deputy prime minister Sam Condor and senior minister Dr. Timothy Harris said in a statement.

Last week,

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Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta inaugurated President

New Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta

Uhuru Kenyatta has been sworn in as Kenya's president. He replaces Mwai Kibaki, a very successful president, whose second term has expired.

Kenyatta, 51, becomes Kenya's youngest-ever president following a narrow election victory, with 50.07 percent of the vote, in elections held last month.

The country's chief justice administered the oath of office to Kenyatta in a sports stadium packed with tens of thousands of Kenyans and numerous African

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Monday, April 8, 2013

Haiti launches ambitious social programs

(PRNewswire-USNewswire) - Port-au-Prince - From cash transfers to the elderly and disabled, to hot meals and subsidies for students and farmers, the Government of Haiti has launched the largest and most structured social assistance program ever implemented in this Caribbean country.

In an interview with the Haitian-Caribbean News Network (HCNN), Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, said his government, under the leadership of President Michel Martelly, has established a National Social

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Tony Elumelu partners with Rockefeller Foundation to launch impact investment fund for Africa

Tony Elumelu

Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Elumelu through his Tony Elumelu Foundation has partnered with the Rockefeller Foundation to launch an impact investment fund for Africa.

The investment fund, called the Impact Economy Innovation Fund (IEIF) was officially launched on Friday April 5, at an Impact Investment Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

The forum, which was attended by many leading African entrepreneurs, was jointly hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation,

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President Obama promoting gun legislation in Connecticut

U.S. President Barack Obama with Vice President Joseph Biden and relatives of gun violence victims. PHOTO/Mark Wilson/Getty Images

President Barack Obama is providing rides to 11 relatives of those killed in the shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School so they can attend his gun control speech Monday before heading to Washington on Air Force One to personally encourage senators to back gun legislation that faces tough opposition.

After Obama’s speech in Hartford,

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St Kitts & Nevis: Political crisis as legislators present injunction in court against Denzil Douglas administration

St. Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas

The majority of elected legislators in St Kitts & Nevis' parliament have presented an application for an interim injunction the island-nations' high court against the administration of Prime Minister Denzil Douglas.

The presiding judge has ordered that the matter resume on April 18, to provide defence counsel enough time to consider their response.

The legislators are seeking various declarations from the high court.

The main

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Africa, China relationship further strengthened by just concluded BRICS summit

The just concluded BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit concluded in Durban, South Africa calls for stronger partnerships, integration and industrialization to tackle various development challenges facing Africa.

At the March 26-27 meeting, China, represented by new President Xi Jinping promised a new development roadmap for Africa through four key focus areas, namely: the promotion of African infrastructure development, the establishment of a BRICS development bank,

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Sunday, April 7, 2013

Black Startup: A crowdfunding platform targeting African American entrepreneurs

Bennett Fleming and five of his fraternity brothers from Morehouse College have created Black Startup, a crowdfunding website where entrepreneurs with business ideas or projects geared toward the African American community can raise capital.

Many of the entrepreneurs will likely be black, though that’s not a requirement, Bennett Fleming said. The money, too, will likely come from African Americans or organizations that aim to encourage the community’s economic development.

"There

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Kenya entrepreneur to generate electricity from problem weed, Prosopis juliflora

A weed introduced to Kenya to combat desertification that eventually became a problem invading farmland and damaging farmers' livelihoods is about to provide the necessary raw material to generate electricity.

Prosopis juliflora, known as the 'devil tree' (or mathenge, as it is commonly referred to in Kenya), was introduced from Latin America to semi-arid districts of Kenya by non-governmental organizations in the 1980s. It was selected because of its ability to survive in dry

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Serena Williams beats Jelena Jankovic to win Family Circle

A victorious Serena Williams holding aloft the Family Circle trophy after beating Jelena Jankovic

Serena Williams defeated Jelena Jankovic 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 Sunday for her second consecutive Family Circle Cup title.

Williams won six straight games and 12 of the final 14.

"I don't know what the turning point was," Williams said. "I mean I think after that I just got really relaxed and I was like, 'Honestly, Serena, you've got to kind of chill out and not get crazy.'"

Instead, the

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Suriname: Former Rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk announces intention to run for presidency in 2015

Ronnie Brunswijk

Former rebel leader, Ronnie Brunswijk has announced that he will be making a bid for the presidency of Suriname in the 2015 election.

Brunswijk made the announcement following Saturday night’s performance by American rapper Rick Ross. The show was organized by Brunswijk’s promotions company Romeo Bravo.

Brunswijk took full advantage of the opportunity to launch his next move. He announced that he will be his party’s candidate for President during the next

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Friday, April 5, 2013

Bulk of Haiti earthquake aid went to U.S. firms, organizations - Latest report

Latest report illustrates that the bulk of aid seldom reaches the beneficiaries for whom it is intended.

A new report on American aid to Haiti in the wake of that country's devastating earthquake finds most of the money went to U.S.-based companies and organizations.

The Center for Economic and Policy Research analyzed the US$1.15 billion pledged after the January 2010 quake and found that the "vast majority" of the money it could follow went straight to U.S. companies or organizations,

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African-American unemployment drops slightly as U.S. economy adds 88,000 jobs in March

Job applicants fill out applications for positions at a new bar and restaurant in Detroit. PHOTO/Paul Sancya/AP

U.S. employers added just 88,000 jobs in March, the fewest in nine months and a sharp retreat after a period of strong hiring. The slowdown may signal that the economy is heading into a weak spring.

The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate dipped to 7.6 percent from 7.7 percent, the lowest in four years. But the rate fell last month only because more

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Analyzing the co-relation of the rise of Africa and the continents' increasing embrace of democracy

Africa is rising not only on the growth charts of economists.

The continent that was a byword for poverty, chaos and bloodshed only a few decades ago, providing a media feast of famines and wars, is slowly but steadily notching up gains on the democracy scorecard too.

Last month's peaceful Kenyan presidential election - and the Supreme Court process that confirmed Uhuru Kenyatta's narrow win - confounded pundits' predictions that East Africa's biggest economy would tumble back into

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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Kenya's Amina Mohamed on track to head the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Amina Mohamed

Ambassador Amina Mohamed has been recommended for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The post falls vacant on August 31,2013, when incumbent Pascal Lamy’s term as Director-General expires.

According to its' website, the WTO deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

Ambassador Mohamed currently serves as the UN assistant

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Profile: Don Charlton, Founder and CEO of The Resumator

Don Charlton, Founder and CEO of The Resumator

Don Charlton is the founder and CEO of The Resumator - a company "that takes the hassle out of hiring".

Charlton founded the company in 2009 and in the few years The Resumator has grown to the extent that it has become the provider of choice for many employers.

According to sources, The Resumator has changed the way hiring gets done online. It provides an on-demand hiring platform which helped employers save money on advertising jobs

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Jamaica: Medical services paralyzed as doctors initiate industrial action

More than 60 percent of the 2,500 government paid medical doctors who are attached to the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association and the Medical Association of Jamaica called in sick on Thursday - an apparent sign of industrial action.

The industrial action by doctors in the public health system has led to large crowds at public hospitals and clinics across the island-nation.

Jamaica's ministry of Health in confirming the reports the industrial action by doctors, said several health

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Rapid African growth forcing a re-think in U.S. - Africa trade relations

Africa's top trading partners. COURTESY/U.S. Senator Chris Coons

The U.S. can’t afford to ignore investment and trade with Africa now that countries like China and India are increasingly investing in African countries.

The U.S.’s lack of attention to Africa’s commercial opportunity comes at a time when the region is poised for an economic takeoff.

Six of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies (according to data from the International Monetary Fund for 2001-2010) are in

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Annual Media Institute on Health hosted by the NABJ to address health care disparities in the United States

(Black PR Wire) - The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is proud to announce its 5th Annual Media Institute on Health. The three-day conference will take place April 4-6 in Washington, D.C. and it is hosted by The Kaiser Family Foundation.

On Thursday, April 4, registered attendees will participate in an exclusive White House Briefing on Consumer Health from Administration officials including HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. U.S. Surgeon

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The Bahamas to host regional FATCA workshop

The Bahamas Ministry of Financial Services will be hosting a workshop on the United States’ Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) on April 9-10, 2013 in Nassau. The workshop will be facilitated by US Treasury Department officials from the international tax counsel and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The ministry of financial services said it views this workshop as an important opportunity for regional governments and the private sector to dialogue in detail with the US

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Anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu wins $1.7 million Templeton Prize

Archbishop Desmond Tutu – PHOTO/Martin Meissner/AP

(Reuters) - South African anti-apartheid campaigner retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu has won the 2013 Templeton Prize worth US$1.7 million for helping inspire people around the world by promoting forgiveness and justice, organizers said on Thursday.

A leading human rights activist of the late 20th century, the former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town played a pivotal role in the downfall of the brutal apartheid system and subsequently

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Angola approves bidding for oil block exploration licences

(Reuters) - Angola's government on Wednesday approved the guidelines of a plan to hold bidding for licences to explore for oil onshore in the Kwanza and Lower Congo basins, the cabinet office said on Wednesday.

The administration said in a statement that it has asked parliament to approve the plan. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos' ruling MPLA party has a large parliamentary majority.

Angola, which is Africa's second-largest oil producer after Nigeria, and one of the seven fastest

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Bermuda facing credit downgrade by Moody's

(Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday warned it may downgrade Bermuda's Aa2 sovereign credit rating, citing prospects for further increases in already elevated government debt levels.

"In addition, the island-nation's economy remains in recession, making efforts to correct the fiscal deterioration more difficult," Moody's said in a

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Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson retires

Assistant Secy.,Johnnie Carson

The head of the U.S State Department's Africa Bureau, Johnnie Carson, formally retired on March 29 ending a career that spans 44 years.

Lately, Carson had been the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, having been appointed to this position by President Barack Obama in 2009.

Carson has been the US point-man in Africa during a period which included the rollback of al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab's control over a large swathe of Somalia by the

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Ghana: Gold Fields workers stage industrial action - down tools

(Reuters) - South African bullion producer Gold Fields revealed last night, that workers at its Tarkwa and Damang mines in Ghana have launched industrial action that has halted production.

Gold Fields, which owns 90 percent of the mines, said the the industrial action was related to a dispute over the profit share payments to

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Robin Kelly endorsed by President Obama for congressional seat

Robin Kelly. PHOTO/Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

President Barack Obama on Tuesday endorsed Robin Kelly in the race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr., who resigned from the seat last year amid a federal investigation and later pleaded guilty to misspending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds.

Kelly announced on Twitter that she was proud to have the endorsement of Obama, who is a longtime friend. "I look forward to working with him in Washington," Kelly tweeted.

A former state

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Apathy.
What a hellish idea!

And yet it manifests itself everywhere in as many parts of Africa. It is there to meet you when you land at Accra; in Lagos and in Abuja – and it slaps you right in the face as you snake your way across the Rubicon of the almost impenetrable traffic one must cross to get to the heart of Kampala.

But perhaps its not indifference or laziness that afflicts Africa. We may even be correct to suggest that the heart of the matter is certain cynicism. Some of

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Apathy.
What a hellish idea!

And yet it manifests itself everywhere in as many parts of Africa. It is there to meet you when you land at Accra; in Lagos and in Abuja – and it slaps you right in the face as you snake your way across the Rubicon of the almost impenetrable traffic one must cross to get to the heart of Kampala.

But perhaps its not indifference or laziness that afflicts Africa. We may even be correct to suggest that the heart of the matter is certain cynicism. Some of

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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Grenada: Economy, job creation, improved business climate included in plans to stimulate growth

The recently elected Keith Mitchell administration has outlined plans for the construction of a new economy that will spur economic growth and development in Grenada.

The plans were revealed in the Throne Speech delivered by Governor General Sir Carlyle Glean, at the first session of the Ninth Parliament of Grenada.

Job creation, business opportunities for investors, opportunity for wealth creation and prosperity and social justice for all, are among the priorities.

"This new

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Profile: Mariama Levy - founder and CEO of Verdi Consulting

Mariama Levy - founder and CEO of Verdi Consulting

"Nothing is impossible, you just have to get it done."

Mariama Levy is the founder and CEO of Verdi Consulting based in Mclean, Virginia. Ms. Levy founded the company in 2002, and under her stewardship, Verdi Consutling, had by 2011 attained 1,181 percent growth during the period 2009-2011., and revenues of over US$ 4.2 million for the year 2011.

Verdi Consulting is an accounting and management consulting firm with expertise in

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Digicel to launch low cost smartphone - the DL600

Digicel is looking to launch its own low cost android smartphone in the coming weeks.

In a release, the telecommunication company revealed that the new smartphone - the DL600, will enable "everyone benefit from access to superfast internet speeds at affordable prices.”

The DL600 smartphone will be priced below US$100 and will be available in all Caribbean Digicel stores in May.

“This is all about bringing the amazing experience of 4G to as many people as possible,” said Brian

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Dahabshiil - Africa's largest international payments firm receives 2013 Excellence for Enterprise Award

Africa's largest international payments firm, Dahabshiil, has received a prestigious award at a London presentation ceremony.

Dahabshiil is the ‘rags to riches’ tale of an African entrepreneur, partnered with his son, whose business was disrupted during the Somali civil war.

With limited resources and a strong network of contacts they set about rebuilding their company, which two decades later is now one of the leading international money transfer businesses on the continent and

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Raffi Williams tasked by RNC to reach out to African American voters

Raffi Williams

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has hired the son of Fox News commentator Juan Williams to coordinate the party's efforts to reach out to young and African American voters.

This development comes shortly after RNC chair Reince Priebus admitted that his party has been unable to appeal to the youth and minorities.

Raffi Williams has been named the deputy press secretary of the RNC and has been tasked with helping the Republican Party make inroads into the

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Malawi to take Tanzania to court over lake ownership dispute - Banda

Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete (l) with Malawi President Joyce Banda (r)

Malawi President Joyce Banda has said that her country was giving up on mediation efforts and would take to the courts to settle a long dormant border dispute with Tanzania which has been re-activated by prospects of an oil find.

"Our view is that we should eventually go to court. We should not waste time on this mediation," Banda told reporters in Lilongwe (the Malawian capital) on Monday.

She said the

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No progress in WTO dispute between Antigua & Barbuda and the U.S

Antigua & Barbuda government says there has been no “substantial progress” with the United States with regards to the long standing internet gaming dispute despite recent rulings in its favour by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Baldwin Spencer administrator says it has sought to keep the trade dispute with Washington on “the front burner” of the WTO meetings even as it continues to seek an amicable solution to the matter.

(More: Antigua & Barbuda gets OK from WTO to

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Monday, April 1, 2013

Nigeria's largest bank - Zenith Bank lists $850 million worth of shares on London Stock Exchange

Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s largest bank by tier-1 capital and shareholders’ funds, was on Thursday listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The listing of US$850 million of its shares at US$6.80 each was a major step by the bank at improving liquidity in its stock through Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).

By its size, Zenith Bank’s US$850 million GDR listing is the largest of any Nigerian bank on the LSE to date and is expected to help the bank, with a market capitalisation

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NABJ names Roland Martin Journalist of the Year

Roland Martin

Roland Martin has been named "Journalist of the Year" by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

The organization announced the award early last week. NABJ President Gregory Lee, Jr. praised Martin for his "well-rounded coverage of the African-American community," in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the NABJ had announced that Martin would serve as the Honorary Chair for the 2013 NABJ Convention & Career Fair to be held between July 31 –

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Cholera in Haiti and the United Nations hypocricy

For all its challenges, Haiti was free of cholera for about a century before a United Nations peacekeeping force arrived from Nepal in October 2010.

Although there had been an outbreak of cholera in Nepal shortly before the troops left for Haiti, the United Nations mission failed to appropriately screen the peacekeepers for the disease.

This error was compounded by the United Nations’ failure to provide the peacekeeping mission adequate sanitation facilities at their base in the

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Dangote continues expansion on African continent - applies for mining licence in Ethiopia

Aliko Dangote

The Dangote Group has applied for a silica exploration license in Ethiopia. Silica is the major raw material for glass manufacturing. The industrial group applied for the mining license to establish a glass manufacturing plant.

Dangote has also commenced work on cement manufacturing plant in Ethiopia. The cement factory, located in Mugher town, will have a production capacity of 1.5 tonnes per annum.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Mines had previously suspended accepting

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Obama to promote plan to create jobs

U.S. President Barack Obama delivering the State of The Union Address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington., Feb 12, 2013. PHOTO/Charles Dharapak/AP

U.S. President Barack Obama will promote a plan to create jobs by attracting private investment in highways and other public works during a visit Friday to a Miami port, a senior administration official said.

The President will flesh out details of his proposals in a speech at the port, which is undergoing US$2

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Usain Bolt wins season opener in Brazil

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. PHOTO/Joe Klamar/AFP

Sprint super star Usain Bolt launched his season with a 150-meter win on a track set up at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Bolt fell short of the world-best mark of 14.35 he set on the streets of Manchester in 2009 while cruising to victory in 14.42 seconds.

Another Caribbean athlete, Antigua & Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey was fourth behind Brazilian sprinter Bruno Lins and Ecuador’s Alex Quinones.

“It was my first sprint race,

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South Africa: Nelson Mandela condition improves

Former South African President Nelson Mandela. PHOTO/PETER DEJONG /AP

(Reuters) - The condition of South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela has improved further, the government said on Sunday, as the 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero spent a fourth day in hospital receiving treatment for pneumonia.

"Nelson Mandela had a restful day," South Africa's presidency said in a statement, adding doctors treating him had reported "a further improvement in his condition".

"We are

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