Bright Lights, Big City is High Risk for Students

Being a university freshman is an exciting time for any young person, but many students get carried away, partying too hard and taking sexual risks.

We for or Against Us - The Dilemma of Population Growth

Imagine Ethiopia being among the top 10 in the world for anything. In 2050 it will almost happen. Alas, Philippines will beat us by a very small margin. Forty years from now, Ethiopia will be the 11th most populous nation in the world with 149.5 million people. Just think of how much aid food we are going to get then. Don't worry; many of us will live to see that day.

Project for Reintegration of Illegally Trafficked Ethiopian Women Returnees Signed

The European Commission funded project entitled "Socio-Economic Reintegration for Illegally Trafficked Ethiopian Women and Returnees from the Middle East Countries" was signed on Tuesday among the United Nations Development Program and four local civic and development organizations in Ethiopia, a joint EC Delegation to Ethiopia and the UNDP in Ethiopia press release said.

Country's Elections - Another Zero-Sum Game?

In the first part of our commentary on the madness of Ethiopia's 2010 'elections', we posed the question: 'Is it possible to have a fair and free election in a police state?' In light of the persuasive anecdotal evidence presented by former Ethiopian president Dr Negasso Gidada, which pointed to the complete absence of a level electoral playing field, we concluded that it was not possible.

Ethiopia-Bound Passengers Stranded After Plane Tyres Burst

ETHIOPIAN Airlines passengers who were scheduled to leave for Addis Ababa yesterday got stranded after the aeroplane they were to board burst two tyres on landing at the Lusaka International Airport.

Zimbabwe: Failure to Act on Abuses Threatens Conflict Diamond Process

The decision to give Zimbabwe no more than a slap on the wrist for the human rights abuses which its army has committed on the Marange alluvial diamond fields in the south-east of the country seriously threatens the future of the diamond industry's initiative to avert consumer boycotts of its gemstones.

Botswana: Remarks by President Obama and President Ian Khama of Botswana after Meeting

Transcript of remarks by President Barack Obama of the United States and President Ian Khama of Botswana after a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday November 5, 2009:

Malawi: Mine Galvanizes Civil Society

As if they were going to the races, Emma Musako and Monica Mhango showed up in their finest outfits to attend a meeting on the health, social and environmental impacts of uranium mining. They came because they, like the other attendees, no longer want to remain uninformed citizens.

Africa: Failure to Suspend Zimbabwe Allows for Sale of 'Blood Diamonds' - HRW

The credibility of the world's "blood diamond" monitoring group has been damaged after its failure this week to suspend Zimbabwe despite overwhelming evidence of serious human rights abuses and smuggling in the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe, Human Rights Watch said today.

Kenya: Plan Poor's Stipend Well

The government plan to pay poor families a monthly stipend looks noble from a distance, but it but it calls for closure examination. The scheme, launched in Nairobi by Prime Minister Raila Odinga this week, may be well intentioned, but it raises critical concerns, which must be addressed for it to be effective.

Gambia: Trust Bank Gives D50,000 for Beijing Plus 15 Meeting

As preparation for the Beijing Plus15 Banjul meeting gets to an advanced stage, samaritans from all sectors of society are coming on board to be part of this rare historic event with donations in cash or kind.

Kenya: Telkom Returns CDMA Services After Approval

Telkom Kenya's commercial brand, Orange, has reintroduced nationwide code division multiple access (CDMA) services, after being restricted within regional zones for about a year.

Tunisia: Pioneer Oil Production Increases by 13 Percent

The Us energy Company, Pioneer has announced that its daily production in Tunisia has increased by 13% to average 7,000 Barrels of Oil Equivalents Per Day (MBOEPD) during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

Zimbabwe: Timba Increases Shareholding in RTG

AFRE Chief Executive Officer Patterson Timba has increased his shareholding in Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) after British millionaire Nicholas Van Hoogstraten sold his 10% stake in the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed hotel and leisure group. This comes after 160 million shares were snapped up on the market by Renaissance Securities, a company controlled by Timba on Tuesday in a deal valued at US$4,8 million.

Ghana: MTN Establishes Position Among Top Mobile Operators

MTN Ghana, the leading telecommunications operator in Ghana, has launched her 3.5G technology in Takoradi and its environs.

Africa: Environments for Leveraging Economic Opportunity

There is no lack of opportunity in Africa. But the road to converting those opportunities to business success is often paved with obstacles. The question becomes not what opportunities exist in Africa, but how to make them work.

Cameroon: Mezam - 98 PIB Projects Realised

Mezam Division in the North West Region has executed 98 Public Investment Budget projects out of 114 projects granted the Division.

Nigeria: Countries to Strengthen Investment Ties

The Indian Government has expressed willingness to partner with Nigeria to promote trade relations between the two countries.

South Africa: Private Investor - Illovo Sugar Remains a Sweet Investment

BACK in July, ahead of the details of the rights issue of Illovo Sugar and after the report made by chairman Robbie Williams at the company's annual general meeting, I wrote: "If I held Illovo's shares, I'd stick to them and, dependent on the discount, follow the rights."

Nigeria: 'Capital Market Operators Betrayed Our Trust'

Nominee of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for the position of Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Miss Aruma Oteh told the Senate Committee on Capital Market yesterday that capital market operators had betrayed the trust of Nigerians.

Zimbabwe: Failure to Act on Abuses Threatens Conflict Diamond Process

The decision to give Zimbabwe no more than a slap on the wrist for the human rights abuses which its army has committed on the Marange alluvial diamond fields in the south-east of the country seriously threatens the future of the diamond industry's initiative to avert consumer boycotts of its gemstones.

Nigeria: 'Treaty Between FG, China Will End Importation of Substandard Products'

Consumers worrying over substandard goods from China may now heave a sigh of relief as China and Nigeria have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ending such imports from the former.

South Africa: Minister Defends SA's Growing Ties With China

Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim yesterday defended SA's growing trade relations with China at the department's annual conference on foreign policy, saying China had an unchallenged policy of funding infrastructure as a means of benefiting the African states it traded with.

Tunisia: Exports to Arab and African Countries Soar By 19,5 Percent

According to the executive staff of the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), Tunisian exports to the Arab and African countries posted an increase of 19.5% worth 803 billion dinars during the first 9 months of 2009, against 672 billion dinars in 2008.

Nigeria: Niger Border Not Closed, FG Says

The federal government yesterday said Nigeria has not closed its borders with Niger Republic.