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Catholic numbers on rise in Africa and Asia

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 11:02
The number of Catholic priests and believers in the world is on the rise, a Vatican report showed on Monday, with gains in Africa and Asia offsetting a slump in Europe and the Americas. The world's Catholics rose from 1.196 billion to 1.214 billion between 2010 and 2011, an increase of 1.5 percent, according to the Church's annual statistics report. The gain outstripped the increase in the global population, which rose by 1.23 percent over the same period, the report said.

'Africa's Davos' to plot continent's rise

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 18:12
The great and good of global commerce descended on Cape Town Wednesday to take part in "Africa's Davos," which hopes to flesh out the promise of a continent-wide economic revolution. More than 1,000 people -- including heads of state, captains of industry and assorted onlookers -- will gather for the World Economic Forum's annual Africa gathering, which runs until Friday. They will discuss a continent long-defined by poverty, disease and war, but one that is expected to grow at more than five percent this year.

Zimbabwe deputy PM tells Africa to be tough on China

Agence France-PresseApril 17, 2013 12:31
Africa must learn to dictate its own terms when dealing with China and stop blaming Beijing, apartheid or colonialism for its economic woes, Zimbabwe's deputy prime minister said Wednesday. Arthur Mutambara said it was time for Africa to stop taking a "romantic view" of China because it has grown from a "comrade in poverty" to a global economic giant and superpower. "Why are we not making sure the engagement with China is on our terms, as Africans? Labour, skills, technology, value addition," he said at a China-Africa conference.

Eyeing Africa's rise, law firms tap fear of graft

April 13, 2013 23:16
Corruption-fearing western executives are still squeamish about investing in Africa, but as the continent's economies take off, legal firms hope to make big bucks from assuaging those concerns. As debate rages about the sustainability of Africa's economic rise, there is little doubt that the continent today offers investment returns that cannot be matched in most developed markets. The International Monetary Fund projects that sub-Saharan Africa will grow at 5.7 percent in 2013, outpacing most regions and rivalling Asia's boom markets.

Landlubber chameleons became sailors

March 26, 2013 20:30
Chameleons took to the waves to migrate from Africa to Madagascar about 65 million years ago, said a study published on Wednesday that seeks to resolve a roiling biological debate. Chameleons are famous for the extraordinary ability of some species to change colour, and for a lightning-fast talent to catch prey with their tongue. Biologists, though, are bemused by a wider question: Where on Earth did chameleons come from?

China's Xi vows to 'intensify' ties with Africa

March 25, 2013 11:00
China's new President Xi Jinping hailed Monday the strength of ties with African nations, in a keynote speech on his first trip as head of state to the continent. Hailing resource-rich Africa as a "continent of hope and promise", Xi addressed leaders in Tanzania's economic capital as "my dear friends" and spoke of Beijing's "sincere friendship" with Africa. "Africa belongs to the African people," Xi said, speaking in a new conference hall built by China. "In developing relations with Africa, all countries should respect Africa's dignity and independence."

China's Xi vows to 'intensify' ties with Africa

March 25, 2013 06:15
China's new President Xi Jinping hailed Monday the strength of ties with African nations, in a keynote speech on his first trip as head of state to the continent. Hailing resource-rich Africa as a "continent of hope and promise", Xi addressed leaders in Tanzania's economic capital as "my dear friends" and spoke of Beijing's "sincere friendship" with Africa. "Africa belongs to the African people," Xi said, speaking in a new conference hall built by China. "In developing relations with Africa, all countries should respect Africa's dignity and independence."

INTERVIEW-Africa to see robust growth, needs more inclusion-AfDB

March 11, 2013 09:45
By Carolyn Cohn LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Sub-Saharan Africa is likely to show robust 5.8 percent growth this year, with domestic demand playing a key role, but business must do more to promote a more inclusive society, the African Development Bank said on Monday. "We are looking at growth of around 5.8 percent this year in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa it would be 6.2 percent," AfDB president Donald Kaberuka told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a business briefing.

Africa investment boom sees beyond conflict-driven headlines

February 25, 2013 03:45
* Africa equity funds expand nearly fivefold in last 6 years * Investors include local pension and sovereign wealth funds * Nigeria banking stocks among top picks * High returns, low correlations attract funds By Carolyn Cohn LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Turmoil in Tunisia? Conflict in Mali? Fraught elections in Kenya? Investment in Africa is thriving regardless.

2012 another deadly year for elephants in Africa: CITES

February 19, 2013 12:15
The number of African elephants killed by poachers in 2012 will most likely be higher than the 25,000 illegally killed the previous year, the head of UN wildlife trade regulator CITES said Tuesday. "Right across the range of the African elephant, in 2011 25,000 elephants were illegally killed, and based upon our analysis done so far, 2012 looks like the situation deteriorated rather than improved," said CITES Secretary General John Scanlon.
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