May 13, 2009
South Africa: Diamond Sold For Record U.S. $9.4 Million
A seven-carat blue diamond discovered at the Cullinan diamond mine near Pretoria has been sold in Geneva for a record price of nearly U.S. $9.5 million. Read more »
May 09, 2009
Africa: Global Crisis Cuts Trade, Undermines Gains
The global financial crisis will overshadow this year's annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), which begin Sunday in Dakar, Senegal. Read more »
May 08, 2009
Africa: Continent Needs Infrastructure, Integration, Says AU Leader
Africa has taken "a major hit" from the global economic recession but it can weather the storm, says Erastus Mwencha, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission. Mwencha… Read more »
May 07, 2009
Somalia: Pirates Hijack Two More Ships
Pirates continue to seize cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden, the latest targets being Dutch and German vessels. Read more »
Liberia: Sunken Merchant Vessel Raised from Monrovia Freeport
The merchant ship Torm Alexandra is again afloat in Monrovia Freeport after a lengthy and complicated salvage operation in the Liberian capital. Read more »
May 04, 2009
Somalia: Warship Seizes Suspected Pirates
As the European Union (EU) continues to boost its anti-piracy naval task force, a French warship has arrested more suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean between Kenya and the… Read more »
April 28, 2009
Somalia: Pirate Suspects Caught After Cruise Ship Attack
Nine suspected pirates have been captured north of the Seychelles after an unsuccessful attempt to seize an Italian cruise liner. Read more »
April 26, 2009
Somalia: Cruise Ship Repels Pirate Attack
Pirates who tried to hijack an Italian cruise liner off the Somali coast were repelled on Saturday night. Read more »
April 18, 2009
Somalia: Pirates Stage Daring New Attacks
Somali pirates hijacked a Belgian-owned ship off Somalia on Saturday but a Dutch naval frigate foiled an attack on a Greek-owned chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden. Read more »
April 15, 2009
Somalia: Pirates are Well-Organized, Resilient
Somali piracy is "a highly structured enterprise" built around well-organized syndicates which regularly extort U.S. $1-million ransoms for shipowners to release ships and their… Read more »
April 14, 2009
Somalia: Pirates Seize More Ships
Pirates have captured four more ships and taken more than 60 crew members hostage in the Gulf of Aden in the last two days, following the death of three pirates in a standoff with… Read more »
April 12, 2009
Somalia: U.S. Mariner Freed as Pirates Move to Seychelles
An American merchant ship captain was freed from Somali pirates by U.S. Navy forces Sunday, as a new warning was issued about pirate activity in East African sea lanes near the… Read more »
April 11, 2009
Somalia: Pirates in New Hijacking In Gulf of Aden
American merchant ship captains have called for harsh action against Somali pirates, even as an American-owned tug was seized Saturday in the Gulf of Aden. Read more »
April 10, 2009
Somalia: U.S. Pirate Hostage Drama Continues, Air Patrols Begin
As a hostage drama involving an American merchant ship's captain and a group of pirates continued into Friday, the European Union's anti-piracy force began regular air patrols off… Read more »
April 09, 2009
Somalia: U.S. Navy Intervenes Against Pirates
A United States Navy missile destroyer has arrived to help end an ongoing standoff between four Somali pirates and their American hostage off the east coast of Somalia. Read more »
April 08, 2009
Somalia: U.S. Ship Hijacked, Captain Taken Hostage
The crew of an American-operated ship hijacked by suspected Somali pirates early Wednesday has regained control of the vessel, but the pirates have taken the captain hostage, news… Read more »
Somalia: Pirates Seize U.S. Ship, Crew
BREAKING NEWS: Pentagon sources are telling CNN and news agencies that crewmembers have regained control of the ship and that one pirate is in custody. Read more »
Somalia: U.S. Crew Seized by Pirates in Hijacking
Somali pirates off the coast of East Africa have hijacked a ship with 21 American crew on board. Read more »
April 06, 2009
Somalia: Pirates Seize More Ships
In a new upsurge in piracy off the Somali coast, two more ships have been hijacked in the past two days. Read more »
April 02, 2009
Africa: G20 Leaders Promise Billions for Low-Income Nations
The leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies, recognizing that the global financial crisis has "a disproportionate impact" on vulnerable people in poor countries, have promised… Read more »
April 01, 2009
Africa: Looking For Crumbs From the G20's Table?
As leaders of the world's most productive economies meet in London on Thursday, street activism around the need for poverty alleviation and action on climate change is expected to… Read more »
March 27, 2009
Africa: Annan Sounds Alarm on Global Economic Crisis
A high-level panel of African leaders and development experts headed by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a call Friday for reforms of global governance… Read more »
Africa: Global Crunch Gives Continent's Leaders Responsibilities
Although the current global economic crisis was triggered by the financial practices of industrialized nations, African leaders have important responsibilities to meet if they are… Read more »
Africa: African Union Must Join G20, Says SA Finance Minister
The last decade witnessed the dawn of hope on the African continent. We had achieved the fastest growth rates since independence. Our efforts to build institutions and strengthen… Read more »
Africa: Global Crisis 'Hits Africa Twice,' Says Kofi Annan
Africa is facing difficult times. The effects of the global economic recession and climate change have already begun to reverse the progress the continent has made over the last… Read more »