True to its word, the African Union (AU) has announced the imposition of sanctions against Madagascar's "de facto authorities" - exactly a year after Andry Rajoelina, backed by the military, ousted former President Marc Ravalomanana.

Cosatu has threatened to "bring the economy to a standstill", if Metrorail carries out plans to increase train fares on April 1.

Protesters made up of mainly women and youths from Oleh, the administrative headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday shut down facilities of the‚Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

An Executive of the Conau Group in Liberia has called on Liberians to take advantage of the good opportunities of investment in the country.

The Training Department of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) in collaboration with the Swedish National Audit Office (SNAO) on March 12, 2010 conducted a two-day workshop in the training room of the Commission.

The maritime freight of goods importation to Angola is very expensive because of the weak negotiation capacity of local importers said on Friday in Luanda the general director of National Importers Council (CNC), Francisco Agostinho Itembo.

One of the principal macroeconomic goals of any government is to create job opportunities, wealth creation and poverty alleviation. These goals are usually encapsulated in the budget, which is a statement of estimated income and expenditure in a fiscal year.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has finally fixed March 22nd as start off date for this season's Zenith Bank League. The President of the NBBF Mr Tijjani Umar and the Secretary of the Federation Mr. Francis Gbiri confirmed the date just as he confirmed that the teams have been put on immediate alert for the change in date. The Federation had announced April 7th as the start off date.

Minerva Group, Dubai , principal financier of the New Generation Telecom consortium that offered $2.5 billion bid to acquire 75 per cent stakes in the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) yesterday said it has the financial muscle to turn NITEL around.â-‚

Inadequate power supply has continued to take its toll on the nation's economy as operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery have been completely crippled owing to electricity constraints.

Senate President, David Mark, assessed the development in the nation's banking sector and concluded that poor supervision by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was responsible for the failure of some banks.

Amid frenzied efforts by the authorities of the various security agencies in the state to put their fingers on the real reason for the Warri bomb explosions on Monday, the Delta State Government yesterday accused some criminally minded "external forces" outside the state of perpetrating the dastardly act.

An international roundtable on the way forward for the Nigerian oil sector has pointed out that the rosy future for Nigeria lies in ensuring passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and implementation of the Post amnesty programme.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday voided the cancellation by former minister of information and communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, of the licensing process of national frequencies in the 2.3GHz band.

Fourteen people were killed in January and February in accidents caused by motorcycles in north central Malanje province, the national director of the road traffic authority revealed today.

Most of the bike accidents, which kill at least one in Douala everyday, are preventable.

The southern Huila province needs 300 physicians to work at the local health network spread throughout the region's 14 districts.

Science and Agriculture Faculty (FCA), situated 12 kilometres off Huambo city, will receive Thursday 50 computers to equip student's computer rooms of agriculture and forest engineering course, a donation made by Chevron.

Angoa seeks to maintain an ongoing dialogue with China aimed at strenghtening bilateral relations, the angolan secretary of state for cooperation stated today.

Viana administrator, José Moreno, on Thursday here visited some social infrastructures under construction to assess the pace of their works, Angop has learnt.

The governments of Angola and Cuba signed Thursday, in Luanda, two technical and scientific agreements in telecommunication sector that formalize cooperation between both countries.

At least USD five million will be invested this year by Fortaleza construction firm to increase its concrete and blocks production and meet market demand, a source with the firm said.

The chairperson of Doctors Association of Angola (OMA), Carlos Alberto Pinto de Sousa said Thursday in Luanda that the medical profession is subject to permanent, but necessary changes, with view to meet a rigorous clinical practice and improvements in the profession.

Africa has the lowest number of internet users in the world, a problem that has prevented its inhabitants from enjoying the benefits of digital media.

Elephants were thrown a life line on Thursday after it emerged that Tanzania's proposal to be allowed to sell ivory is likely to be rejected.

THE rand's rally to a 2½ -month peak against the dollar has raised the odds of an interest rate cut at the Reserve Bank's policy meeting next week, although most analysts believe rates will be kept steady.

Despite the financial sector boom in Senegal, small and medium sized businesses (SMBs), which represent over 90 percent of the industrial fabric of the country, struggle to access funding for their development, their representatives claim.

African science ministers are hoping to extend a high-speed fibre optic network - currently linking Egypt to the northern hemisphere - to other countries in Africa.

THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy is pressing ahead with its investigations into the controversial diamond mining activities by Mbada Diamonds and Canadile Miners at Chiadzwa in Marange district, Manicaland.

Mumias Outgrowers Company Ltd has formally closed shop weighed down by debts.