New York--Who's the wealthiest diamond tycoon in the world? According to Forbes ' 2010 list of the World's Richest People, that would be De Beers Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer, with an…

THERE is something paradoxical about diamonds. Ideally they should be a source of wealth and prosperity — even a symbol of love (“a girl’s best friend”, Marilyn Monroe told us)…

Oil deals and diamond contracts are on the docket for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in India, where he is scheduled to arrive Thursday.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 11, 2010) - Amseco Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:AEL) (" Amseco ") is happy to announce the signature of an acquisition agreement for a 100% interest in…

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 11, 2010) - Amseco Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:AEL) (" Amseco ") is happy to announce the signature of an acquisition agreement for a 100% interest in…

MONTREAL, QUEBEC-- - Amseco Exploration Ltd. is happy to announce the signature of an acquisition agreement for a 100% interest in two claim blocks that make up the Urban-Oasis property…

MONTREAL, QUEBEC-- - Amseco Exploration Ltd. is happy to announce the signature of an acquisition agreement for a 100% interest in two claim blocks that make up the Urban-Oasis property…

The uranium miner's CEO says the group is increasingly convinced, although still skeptical that this is when the 20-year deal between the country and a consortium of companies commissioned to sell the highly-enriched uranium will come to an end.

As cash pressures mount, gold majors move to mine the markets, which are proving more lucrative than the mining of gold.

Blanchard Chairman, Donald Doyle sees numerous reasons that point to gold's nine-year bull run continuing in both the near and long term.

The group hopes to bring the mine on line by early 2014 at a cost of about $114m

The Chilean miner's CEO says the group has already had informal discussions with banks about debt financing for Reko Diq and will also look at possible takeover targets

But, the group says it expects to nearly double production in 2010

Mark Mobius, manager of the Templeton Emerging Markets investment trust, said strong economic growth and low inflation continue to support the outlook for emerging markets.

Research by broker Wins suggests Lowland Investment trust may struggle to retain its premium rating given manager James Henderson's dip in relative performance this year.

Franklin Templeton has opened its Luxembourg-registered Templeton Emerging Markets Smaller Companies SICAV to UK investors with a sterling-denominated share class.

The exposure of Shires Income investment trust to preference shares led to a fall in net asset value over the first six months of the year.

The United Nations Representative in Côte d'Ivoire met today with the new President of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in a bid to reenergize a stalled electoral process further delayed by last month's dissolution of the Government and deadly street protests.

THE Senate, Thursday, approved the request from Acting President Goodluck Jonathan seeking its approval to appoint five special advisers.

THE Senate, Thursday, passed into law a bill creating extra remuneration packages besides statutory pensions for former leaders of the country, but left out former heads of government who were not democratically-elected.

Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State said there was no time the 36 state governors decided that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan should remain in acting capacity while ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua remain the President.

ALHAJI Aliko Dangote, Nigerian born billionaire commodity merchant, industrialist has again made it on the list of the world richest men alive, according to a Forbes World Richest Billionaires released yesterday. But his friend and arch rival, Femi Otedola has, however, dropped out of the list probably due to the stock market crash that has gravely eroded his fortune.

Until February 24 unexpected return of ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua from Saudi Arabia hospital, the North was already shopping for a Vice President.

TANOUT Wednesday, March 10, 2010 (IRIN) - "Empty" increasingly describes villages around the southern Niger town of Tanout in Zinder Region: Water wells and pastures, fields and food banks - and slowly - entire villages, are emptying.

NAIROBI Tuesday, March 09, 2010 (IRIN) - Global funding shortfalls for fighting AIDS could make it impossible for developing countries to implement new World Health Organization treatment guidelines, activists have said.

DAKAR Wednesday, March 10, 2010 (IRIN) - It costs more to vaccinate a child in Chad against polio - almost 70 US cents per child - than in any other country in the world at risk of polio outbreaks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

DAKAR Tuesday, March 09, 2010 (IRIN) - A polio vaccination campaign in the violence-wracked central Nigerian city of Jos has been delayed until 13 March due to the violence and a recent health worker strike, aid workers said.

How Malawi hopes social enterprise will help

Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba is named African Footballer of the Year, while Algeria were named team of the year.

Hundreds of Nigerian women protest over last week's violence near Jos, where women and children were massacred.

Morocco warns against religious activists seeking to convert people - two days after expelling 20 Christians.

Ghana president John Atta Mills appeals to Caf to reverse Togo's ban from the next two Africa Cup of Nations.

Hosts South Africa finally settle upon their training venue for the World Cup, just three months before the start of the finals.

Borussia Dortmund and Egyptian ace Mohamed Zidan claims English side Arsenal are keeping close eyes on him for possible transfer during the summer. Zidan, 28, thrust himself into the English limelight due to his goal against England for the Pharaohs in an international friendly at Wembley last week. "My agent spoke to me after the game and told…

Four years ago he emerged as the African Best Player and he is back again to fight for the title. Tonight will tell in Accra, Ghana where he coincidentally grabbed the same award in 2006. Les Elephants captain is contesting against Ghana's Michael Essien and Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o. Full profile below:Full Name: Didier DrogbaNationality…

Inter and Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o is looking forward to a fourth CAF Best Player of the continent for 2009. Perhaps the year under review was his best ever has he won four cups with Barcelona. So who is Samuel Eto’o? Full Name: Samuel Eto'o Nationality: Cameroonian Date of Birth: 10/03/1981 Position: Striker Current…

Over 49 people totalling 200 arrested during the killings near the city of Jos in Nigeria are to be charged with murder after communal violence that left scores of villagers dead. According to police, 109 Christians and 300 Muslims died in bloodshed totalling to about 500 people in the killings. In Nigeria's central Plateau State, Christians occupy…

In the early '80s, a lot of people from West African countries used to mock at Ghana and its millions of citizens scattered across the sub-region, embarking on odd jobs to eke out a living. They would say, “Ghana man, shoemaker, we pity for you-oh,”… “Mr Johnbull, so your spare part business just fall down like Ghana country,”…

Magistrate Hliary Ubeke of the Banjul Magistrate's Court on Thursday denied bail for Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme, director of programs of the Africa in Democracy and Good governance (ADG), who is charged with giving false information. Appearing in court on Thursday, Magistrate Ubeke denied the bail application filed by defense counsel, Assan Martin,…

ProCredit bank (SL) Ltd Sierra Leone has announced that they are unable to meet the 'new' regulation of the Sierra Leone's Central Bank and therefore will soon pass off ownership to Ecobank. The transfer will enable Ecobank to expand business operations in the microfinance sector and thus strengthening the group of 30 affiliated banks…

The Ghana High Commissioner to Malaysia, Daniel Abodakpi has extended a warm hand of friendship for Malaysian experts to partner Ghana in its oil and gas industry. The High Commissioner expressed this sentiment at a reception organised to mark the 53rd Independence Anniversary of Ghana which fell on Saturday 6th March 2010. The reception was attended…

South Africa's Standard Bank and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development (OFID) launched two unique African development financing initiatives. The first of the OFID/Standard Bank initiatives is a smallholder Risk Sharing Agreement, which is to work in support of the Agriculture Guarantee Fund…

Emirates Airlines has unveiled its intention to commence direct flights to the Senegalese capital, Dakar. According to a statement released Monday by the embassy of United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dakar, the airlines said from the 1st September it will commence its non-stop flights to the Senegalese capital, five times a week. According to the statement,…

Ethiopia has seen an increasing number of oil exploration companies over the past ten years. Oil exploration in that country started in 2000 by the Hunt Oil, an American company. The country can now boast of about eleven companies all exploring oil. The eleven companies are working in petroleum exploration and prospecting with the 19 agreements in…

SouthWest Energy (Ethiopia), a company largely owned by Tewodros Ashenafi, struck a deal with Tullow Oil Plc of the United Kingdom (UK) last week, reliable sources disclosed. SouthWest Energy secured three blocks that cover 29,000 square kilometres in the Ogaden Basin of Eastern Ethiopia, after it signed a product sharing agreement with the Ministry…