A genetically engineered strain of malaria-resistant mosquito could prevent humans beings from being infected with malaria. Produced by United States scientists at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore - Maryland, the insect carries a gene that prevents infection by the malaria parasite. The scientists, led by Dr Mauro Marrelli, wrote in proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that: "To our knowledge, no-one has previously reported a demonstration that transgenic mosquitoes can exhibit a fitness advantage over non-transgenic." The modified mosquitoes have a higher survival rate and lay more eggs.

China: An Opportunity for Africa

The Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Professor Firmino Mucavele, said Chinese investment and its huge infrastructure projects in Africa are an opportunity for the growing continent. He made this observation at an expert group meeting entitled "Investment for African Productive Capacity." The meeting was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African Union (AU). “Lack of adequate infrastructure hinders private sector initiatives and increases their investment costs. China is giving Africa infrastructures such as railways, roads, and others which other development partners are not providing," he added.

Oprah Opens Second School in South Africa

Oprah Winfrey has opened, The Seven Fountains Primary School, her second school in South Africa, . The school was funded by Winfrey's non-profit Angel Network, which gave cash to build 25 classrooms, a library, computer rooms, meeting halls, an art room, sports fields, and a landscaped playground. The $1.6 million project is "green" as well, and recycles rainwater and uses seesaws and merry-go-rounds to pump water. Solar power and a vegetable garden are also part of the campus.

A Boost to Agriculture

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), based in Ibadan – Nigeria, has been awarded a US$600,000 grant to promote cassava production and processing. The W.K. Kellog Foundation of the US gave the grant to promote NEPAD's Pan Africa Cassava Initiative (NPACI) for sustainable economic growth, food security and poverty alleviation in Africa. IITA Public Relations Manager, Mr. Taye Babaleye, said that the grant would help IITA to promote the production of cassava, a drought tolerant crop, in order to reduce the risk of dependency on maize as the major food crop in some drought-hit countries. A statement issued by IITA said that in 1997/98, a severe drought devastated maize farms in Southern Africa, putting the lives of 27 million people in Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zambia at high risk of severe food shortage. Dry conditions in a swathe of the same area in March 2007 are causing renewed fears of low maize harvests and increased hunger in the region.

UK and Ghana to Launch a New 10 Year Development Partnership

The United Kingdom (UK) will launch a new 10-year development partnership with Ghana as a reward for the country's good democratic governance and prudent economic policies. Prime Minister Blair noted that President Kufuor has demonstrated strong leadership and shown remarkable capability to make optimal use of financial support to his country to fight poverty and raise the quality of life of the people. “Ghana is showing how democracy can work and is an example to the rest of Africa”, he said. 

Plan to Attract Foreign Investors

Algeria will this week host a summit of African leaders to assess progress made by an African Union-backed plan to attract more foreign investment to the continent. The heads of state meeting will review the financing of big infrastructure projects under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The NEPAD initiative commits African leaders to promote democracy and good governance in return for increased Western investment, trade and debt relief. Participants will also discuss ways to boost partnership with wealthy nations such as the Group of Eight industrialized countries (G8), as well as the European Union, Japan, China, India and South America.

Ksh. 1 billion Fund for SMEs

Business Partner International (BPI) Kenya, a subsidiary of South Africa’s Business partners Limited, has launched a Ksh. 1 billion fund for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The fund is open to sole proprietor businesses, partnerships and groups. BPI Kenya was incorporated in December 2006 and has so far disbursed Ksh 110 million to six businesses.

James Shikwati Features in the Great Global Warming Swindle Documentary

Are you green? How many flights have you taken in the last year? Feeling guilty about all those unnecessary car journeys? Well, maybe there's no need to feel bad. According to a group of scientists brought together by documentary-maker Martin Durkin, if the planet is heating up, it isn't your fault and there's nothing you can do about it. We've almost begun to take it for granted that climate change is a man-made phenomenon. But just as the environmental lobby think they've got our attention, a group of naysayers have emerged to slay the whole premise of global warming.

Mr. Shikwati, Director of the Inter-Region Economic Network, brings ethical concerns to the debate of climate change and states that denying electricity to the world's poorest people is 'lethal eco-imperialism' – the height of immorality. Already in Kenya, the farmers are up in arms in what they suspect is a back-door strategy by rich Nations to shut their markets against African products.

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/G/great_global_warming_
swindle/index.html