Banjul, The Gambia News

West Africa has overtaken Somalia as the world's piracy hot-spot with 966 sailors attacked last year, the International maritime Bureau says.

Despite the current high exchange rate, The Gambia's economic outlook is generally positive as long as the authorities implement prudent policies, said the International Monetary Fund Mission chief to The Gambia.

The President of the Gambia President, Yahya Jammeh, who is on a countrywide tour across the length and breadth of the country since Monday 10 June, has removed Dr Njogu Bah from office of Minster of Petroleum Minister.

The EU has cut aid to the west African country experiencing a tourism boom, where executions happen apparently at random Sun-seekers are attracted by Gambia's fabulous beaches, bird-watching and haunting kora music.

Selling dried fish in the market in Banjul, the largest in the Gambia. I was impressed by the girl's face, slightly hopeful but already with the belief that no tourist will buy never to his shop infested by the flies.

According to a press release issued by the British High Commission in Banjul, it will forward on to Gambian organisations details of how to bid for funds once details become available.

The cheque was presented by the Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. Samuel Chen, and was received on behalf of the government by the newly appointed Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Hon.

The World Bank senior nutrition specialist for Africa region Wednesday met the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, at State House in Banjul.

It has been said that African businesses will thrive if the business owners leverage the huge market potential on the continent instead of looking outside of the jurisdiction.

In the small West African state of the Gambia, the government has begun a project to use mobile phones to track the attendance of teachers in schools.

The Gambian Vice President, Aja Dr Isatou Njie Saidy, has commissioned the country's first ever ICT Devices Assembly Plant Complex owned by Rlg Communications Ltd in Serekunda near the capital Banjul over the weekend with an announcement that her government had granted Rlg a 5 year tax holiday.

Stakeholders in the micro finance institutions from the five member countries of WAIFEM yesterday commence a four-day regional course on microfinance operations and regulations.

The Vice President and Minister of Women's Affairs, Isatou Njie-Saidy, Friday on behalf of President Yahya Jammeh commissioned a fleet of 50 new buses to kick-start the operations of the newly-established Gambia Transport Service Company .

Zimbabwean PM Morgan Tsvangirai has warned his party will boycott the next elections if media and security reforms are not implemented before the key vote, a report says.

A prominent Gambian businessman Thursday presented two brand new cars - model 4+4 M-Class Mercedes Benz, which is a 2013 model; and E-300 Saloon Benz, as birthday gifts to the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh.

The president of the Republic has stressed the need for Japanese companies to establish and invest more in Africa, saying it is important for them to forge joint ventures with African governments for the exploitation of the continent's vast natural resources.

A close up of the drapery in a open air shop in the Royal Albert market of Banjul.

The African Legal Support Facility , on 28 May in Marrakech, signed a $US 400,000 agreement with The Gambia to provide legal assistance in the negotiations of independent power projects and transmission as well as distribution upgrades in the Greater Banjul area.