adminCote d’Ivoire: Loss of relief aid could threaten fragile peace
GUIGLO. – Nine months after fighting ended in Côte d’Ivoire, at least 15 000 displaced people are still in camps, many of the half million returnees require food aid, the groundwork for reconciliation in many parts of the west has not yet been laid – and aid workers are worried funding will dry up, threatening the fragile peace. “I don’t want the world to move on and say
Why African men go home to marry
Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
After years of wining and dining men in the West, Diasporans return home to find a bride. Within the last 18 months I have attended nine welcoming parties. These are parties by friends and acquaintances who went to Africa, marry and successfully
China deals with low-quality goods cases
BEIJING. – China dealt with 111 300 cases involving fake or low-quality products in 2011, with the goods generating about 5,5 billion yuan (US$846 million), according to the country’s quality watchdog. The authorities transferred 1 190 cases to the police, said Li Yuanping, spokesman of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. There was an
DPRK prioritises light industry, agriculture
PYONGYANG. – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held a cabinet plenary meeting yesterday, setting development of light industry and agriculture as a priority for this year, the official news agency KCNA reported. Priority will be given to improving the people’s livelihood, implementing the prosperity-oriented strategy by the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea, and
Putin publishes key national policy issues
MOSCOW. – Russia’s Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Vladimir Putin has outlined what he views to be the key national policy issues in an article published yesterday, saying the country has always been multinational. In his article, Putin compares the vital national issues in countries throughout the world – and points out a crucial difference in Russia’s
AU Summit preliminary stage gets underway
ADDIS ABABA. – The African Union Summit’s preliminary stage got underway on Monday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, with the continental body offering a strong defence for its actions during the Arab rebellion. The opening session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) was dominated by discussions about the North African crisis and the conflicts that
Zambia takes over Libya-owned Zamtel
LUSAKA. – Zambia has taken back its 75 percent stake in fixed-line operator Zamtel, which had been sold to Libya’s LAP Green for US$257 million, presidential spokesman George Chellah said yesterday. President Michael Sata has named a new acting CEO, and vowed that no workers will lose their jobs during the transition, Chellah said in a statement. “(The) president has
Sadc responds to maritime piracy threat
Southern Africa has strengthened security in its coastal areas as the tide of maritime piracy treks south and threatens trade along the Mozambique Channel. As Somali pirates venture southwards in the Indian Ocean where they have attacked or seized commercial vessels since 2005, Southern African Development Community member states are taking steps to confront
Polish websites protest against anti-piracy pact
WARSAW. – Nearly 100 Polish websites shrouded their pages in black early yesterday to protest against Warsaw’s plan to sign a multilateral anti online piracy accord this week. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) aims to create international standards for intellectual property protection, but some groups oppose it as limiting Internet freedoms. Poland,
Stop oil supply to EU, Iran urged
TEHRAN. – Former Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Falahian called on Tehran authorities to stop oil supply to the European Union member states before the bloc decides on banning oil imports from Iran. Speaking to FNA on Monday, Falahian pointed to a forthcoming meeting of the EU member states to impose an oil ban against Iran, and said European states need