Dilemma X

Angola to grant De Beers new diamond exploration license BY Shriesh Laxmidas Reuters LUANDA – Angola, the world’s fourth-largest diamond producer by value, will approve a new concession to De Beers to explore for diamonds, Geology and Mines Minister Francisco Queiroz said. London-based De Beers, majority-owned by global miner Anglo American (AAL.L), previously explored in […]

Nigeria is now the largest economy in Africa Nigeria’s economy surpassed South Africa’s as the largest on the continent Tolu Ogunlesi The Guardian (UK) After months of delays and mounting anticipation, Nigeria’s economy has been officially “rebased”. It is now worth $510bn (2013 figures) – an 89% rise, far in excess of analysts’ predictions. Nigeria […]

Nigeria set to overtake South Africa as Africa’s biggest economy REUTERS Nigeria will rebase its GDP on Sunday, the statistics office said, in a move that will boost its estimated size by anything from around 40 to 70% and is almost certain to push it ahead of South Africa to become Africa’s biggest economy. The […]

How non-Africans make huge profits from Africa’s oil By Mark Jenkins NPR There are three categories of schemers in Big Men, Rachel Boynton’s illuminating documentary about the oil business in West Africa: businessmen, politicians and bandits. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to tell the types apart. Filmed over about five years, the movie follows the seesawing […]

Cuba approved new foreign investment law Cuban parliamentary unanimously approved replacing the previous law dating from 1995. The session was chaired by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz Oscar Sánchez Serra Granma The National Assembly of Popular Power in extraordinary session chaired by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, adopted the new Law on Foreign Investment. The […]

Kenya-West trade relations soar despite the “looking east” policy By Bedah Mengo Xinhua NAIROBI- Trade relations between Kenya and western nations continue to blossom despite the country’s increasing new bilateral ties, particularly with the East. New economic data from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) received on Monday indicates that western nations remained Kenya’s top […]

Venezuela, Cuba agree to implement 56 welfare projects Xinhua CARACAS- Venezuela and Cuba have agreed to implement 56 welfare projects, Venezuela’s Vice President Rafael Ramirez said Thursday. The consensus was reached during a two-day bilateral high-level committee meeting in Caracas. “With the cooperation of Cuba, we have focused on our people, which is the most […]

Sydney Airport master plan for terminals approved by federal government Jamie Freed The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Airport’s latest master plan, which calls for combining domestic and international operations at shared terminals, has been approved by the federal government. But federal Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Warren Truss says his approval does not negate the […]

European Union suspends most of its remaining sanctions against Zimbabwe The European Union is to further ease sanctions on Zimbabwe next week, but will keep a travel ban and asset freeze on President Robert Mugabe and his wife. Agence France Press (AFP) BRUSSELS– The European Union is ready to suspend most of its remaining sanctions […]

Yesteryear: Atlanta and Charlotte and the rise of the urban South What does the future hold for these urban centers in the 21st Century? A brief timeline look back on a few events that changed Atlanta, Charlotte and the urban South via past newspaper articles on Georgia and North Carolina ________________ 1979 Charlotte March 24, […]