ARIWO !

South African minister's wife Sheryl Cwele on drug charges

Sheryl Cwele has told local media she is innocent The wife of South Africa's intelligence minister has been arrested on drug-dealing charges. Sheryl Cwele, the 50-year-old wife of Siyabonga Cwele, appeared in court charged with conspiring to bring cocaine into the country. Mrs Cwele was charged with procuring a woman to collect drugs in Turkey and of getting another woman to smuggle cocaine from Brazil. She remains in custody until her bail application is heard in a week. Mrs Cwele is facing the charges with Frank Nabolis, a Nigerian national arrested in South Africa in December

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Narcotics seized from 2 foreigners

First Published : 29 Jan 2010 04:23:06 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Two foreigners, a Nigerian and a national of Republic of Benin, were reportedly nabbed by the Customs Department officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad, today and narcotics worth several crores seized from them.

The duo were nabbed when they tried to board a flight to Dubai, customs officials said.

Sources said the Nigerian, Sholaja, and a woman from Republic of Benin, Chibu, concealed huge haul of narcotics in their baggage and came to the RGIA around 8.45 a.m when they were caught. The duo were being questioned.

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Ghana's economy may be bigger than estimated - Government Statistician

The Ghana Statistical Service has confirmed the economy may be much bigger than it is presently estimated. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measures the total value of goods and services produced, is presently estimated at about $22 billion. Head of Research at Standard Bank of Africa Stephen Bailey-Smith is quoted by Bloomberg as saying the bank’s research indicates the GDP figure may have to be revised upwards by about 15 percent. This would put the current GDP at about $33 billion. Government Statistician Dr. Grace Bediako would not go into specifics, even though she agrees there is some underestimation. Speaking to Joy Business, Dr Bediako said the service is still collating data and would soon come out with a new GDP figure for the economy. Read more

Farmers call on govt to ban importation of rice

27 Jan 2010
Tamale, Jan. 27, GNA - Government has been asked to ban the importation of rice into the country and encourage the production and consumption of the foodstuff locally. Mr. Mohammed Adam Nashiru, President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, a civil society organization, who made the call, suggested to the authorities to increase tariff on imported rice, to create market for locally produced rice to increase the income of farmers to support the economy. The leader of the Association was speaking at a meeting of rice farmers from the Tamale area, on Tuesday. Mr. Nashiru said the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Region Regions (the three Northern Regions) last year produced 500,000 metric tones of rice and could meet the local demand for the staple. He expressed worry that lack of interest and political will by successive governments to support rice production had led to low production of the crop in the country.   More story

Senior Chinese party official meets Benin's president on co-op

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) met on Wednesday with Benin's President Boni Yayi on efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two nations, according to reports from its city Cotonou.

China, a true friend of Africa, has provided selfless assistance to Benin at all times, Yayi said during talks with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The visit of the delegation led by Wang is an important one during Benin-Chinese intercourse in recent years, said Yayi, adding that the visit reflects the further political cooperation between the two countries.

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Benin's funk heroes: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo in Europe at last

Benin's funk heroes: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo in Europe at last

Spectacular players and survivors to boot, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo have been going since 1968. But we've had to wait to see them make the trip to Europe

Last September Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou played to a packed house at the Barbican Centre in London. There's nothing unusual about a sold-out gig, but what was unusual was that this was Poly-Rythmo's first ever gig in Europe. One thing that may have helped is an extraordinary YouTube video of the band in action in the 1970s, which the Barbican put on its website. And indeed, the Barbican gig was spectacular – angular melodies, punchy horn lines, psychedelic guitar, an injection of funk and insistent, powerful percussion – beaten out on drums, gourds, bells and shakers. It's music you can't ignore. "We are now able to share our music with ­others," says bandleader Clément Mélomé, "and we ­believe in this adventure."

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GO BENIN VOUS SOUHAITE BONNE ET HEUREUSE ANNEE 2010 SANTE, REUSSITE PROSPERITE ET PAIX POUR LE BENIN

Copyright, Blaise APLOGAN, 2009,© Bienvenu sur Babilown

Tout copier/collage de cet article sur un autre site, blog ou forum, etc.. doit en mentionner et l’origine et l’auteur sous peine d’être en infraction.

Copyright, Blaise APLOGAN, 2009,© Bienvenu sur Babilown

Tout copier/collage de cet article sur un autre site, blog ou forum, etc.. doit en mentionner et l’origine et l’auteur sous peine d’être en infraction.

Copyright, Blaise APLOGAN, 2009,© Bienvenu sur Babilown

Tout copier/collage de cet article sur un autre site, blog ou forum, etc.. doit en mentionner et l’origine et l’auteur sous peine d’être en infraction.

BENIN: Life after cotton

Benin wants to quit importing rice by 2011

COTONOU, 31 December 2009 (IRIN) - Known for its palm oil and cotton production, Benin's agriculture sector wants to become known for high-quality rice and to quit importing rice by 2011, according to the government.
People in Benin's agriculture sector must aim high, said the Agriculture Ministry's Antonin Alavo, coordinator of agriculture diversification.
"We have to nurture grand ambitions [knowing] we will achieve less. It took us 30 years to get where we did with cotton. We will not develop a new sector quickly."
Working with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the government is trying to double current rice output by 2011 by producing 2,200 tonnes (mt) of higher-yield rice seeds annually. The country imported nearly 240,000mt of rice in 2004 – the latest data available – and produced 350,000mt in 2007.

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Garden egg as solution to obesity, blindness

Garden egg as solution to obesity, blindness

Garden egg Garden egg (Solanum melongena) is the fruit in season and for its lovers having steamed yam and stew made with garden egg is a delight. The benefits of eating garden eggs however extend far beyond ensuring that one’s desire for a good breakfast is satisfied.

From Cotonou to Harare, Mozambique to Senegal, this fruit is a highly valued delicacy and constituent of the African food. They also represent fertility and blessing. It is thus not uncommon to find them served during wedding ceremonies across the African continent.

Experts are encouraging people that wants to loss weight to eat more of its fresh form too just as they say that people that are told to protect their heart against cholesterol effects should make it their delight.

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Africa Mercy Prepares For Service In Togo

Kathy Gohmert is the U.S. public relations liaison for Mercy Ships, which is based in Garden Valley.

 

Full story: Tyler Morning Telegraph