Cote d'Ivoire's weather last week was ideal for the development of the April-to-September mid-crop with both rain and sunshine, but political instability has disrupted the harvest, farmers and analysts said on Monday. This year's mid-crop cocoa was expected to be larger compared with last season. But a violent political standoff in the world's top cocoa producing nation after a disputed…
Eni's chief executive has contacted rebels in Benghazi about energy cooperation, as the Italian oil and gas group moved to protect its role as the leading foreign oil operator in Libya. Eni's efforts were supported on Monday by Italy giving Libyan rebels its full backing. CEO Paolo Scaroni had phone contact with representatives of the rebels' National Transitional Council in…
The presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Nuhu Ribadu, has stated that he will focus on nine major policy themes that would enable the nation address and effectively manage the difficulties that its citizens are presently grappling with. Spelling out his vision in his manifestoes, he listed the policy themes as human capital development, the economy, infrastructure,…
Security operatives in Bauchi State have arrested four people suspected to be leaders. They were alledged used as political thugs including an aide to the State Governor after they were said to have been involved in several clashes between rival political parties in the state. It was gathered that the suspects are members of both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party…
Properties worth millions of Naira were lost to a late afternoon inferno that razed Gee Pee Plastic Industries in Asaba, Delta State on Sunday. The fire which started at about 3.30pm lasted several hours, destroying eight giant plastic colder, moulder machines, finished plastic products, over head water tanks and other raw materials worth millions of naira. The inferno did not…
Three persons lost their lives in a fire outbreak in a lodge occupied by students of the Federal Polytechnic in Gwallameji area of Yelwa in Bauchi metropolis. An eyewitness said the three persons who died in the fire incident, were a woman, her five-month old grandson, and a seven-year old girl, believed to be a baby sitter. The fire started,…
Big Brother starts in May M-Net Africa has announced that the sixth season of its reality show, ‘Big Brother Africa', would commence on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Tagged ‘Big Brother Amplified', the show will run for 91 days and attracts a grand prize of $200, 000. M-Net's Director, Biola Alabi, attempted an explanation of the theme this way on its…
Tunisia has ordered its brokerages to suspend securities trading by 123 firms, sources said, including Dubai’s Shuaa Capital and the parent companies of at least two publicly listed Tunisian firms. The firms were named in a confidential list issued at the end of February by Tunisia’s financial authorities. They are trying to pry loose the grip of overthrown President Zine…
Tanzania has invited bids for construction of emergency power plants to supply a total of 260 megawatts (MW) to ease its chronic energy shortages, its president said. Rainfall has an outsized influence on the agrarian economies of East Africa, which depend on hydro-dams for electricity generation. “A tender has already been announced to seek a contractor that will meet the…
The political uncertainties, arising from pending policies and issues affecting major industries in Nigeria, including the oil and gas sector, coupled with the postponement of the long awaited elections last week prospective investors will watch from a distance while existing foreign investors would be on their toes. On Saturday, the nation’s parliamentary elections were postponed until Saturday after voting materials…
3 April 2011 Club World Cup runners-up TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo cleared the first hurdle without much exertion in pursuit of a record third consecutive African Champions League title. The 'Crows' from southern mining city Lubumbashi took a two-goal advantage over Simba of Tanzania to Dar es Salaam where leading scorer Dioko Kaluyituka bagged a brace…
4 April 2011 The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals get underway on Tuesday evening with two fascinating ties involving Spanish giants Real Madrid and title holders Internazionale of Italy. In Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real will host surprise package Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their quarterfinal. Amazingly, it will be the Spanish sides first appearance in the last…
4 April 2011 Third division Baroka FC produced the shock of the Nedbank Cup this season, and in many a year, as they defeated Premiership Moroka Swallows 2-1 in their Last 16 clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. The Limpopo Vodacom League side stunned The Birds with second-half strikes from skipper Katlego Mashego and Khunadi Nkoana, either side…
Ten corps members were held hostage in a village in Nassarawa Eggon local government of Nasarawa State Saturday where they were deployed by INEC to go and conduct elections, after the villagers heard that the election has been shifted till Monday. The villagers insisted on seeing the electoral officer of the local government, Jacob Ajuh, to confirm the postponement before…
The police should arrest and prosecute, in an open and transparent manner, all those involved in violence before, during, and after the April election, executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Roland Ewubare, has said. Mr. Ewubare, who also said the commission is deploying 370 monitors to evaluate the election, said it would not rely on the police to…