"How China pushed Qatar out of Sh400bn Lamu port deal" from Daily Nation

"A cable released detailing China's interest in local economy shows negotiations involving development of Lamu port took place inside the "black box" of President Kibaki's inner circle at State House."

"New HK$1,000 banknote raises the 'bar' on security" from South China Morning Post

"Officials say it will be inserted at a cost, but will make the bills more difficult to copy. The device has been used for the first time this year in some Pacific Ocean islands and African countries. The mainland has also used it on commemorative notes, but no Western countries have so far used the technology.


Hong Kong Note Printing Limited general manager Francis Lau said: "Not many have adopted this feature because it's new. Special machines and inks are required and than can add to costs."

"For much of the past decade, Asia has been the go-to continent for companies interested in tapping into fast-growing economies." from Bloomberg Businessweek

"Now, Wal-Mart Stores' agreement on Sept. 27 to buy South African retailer Massmart Holdings for $4.6 billion may signal a shift toward Africa as another deal-making destination for multinationals. Besides the Wal-Mart acquisition (the U.S. retailer's largest in more than a decade), HSBC Holdings is in talks to buy a controlling stake in Nedbank Group, South Africa's fourth-largest bank, and Japan's Nippon Telegraph & Telephone is buying Africa's biggest technology company, Dimension Data. In all, more than $15 billion in deals have been announced across Africa since July."