Britain is concerned by the wanton destruction of forests worldwide. British High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Edward Clay, said the consequences of the destruction was a "global issue". "We have an interest in the way other countries look at the environment. Its protection is very important," Mr Clay told Environment Minister Joseph Kamotho at Maji House, Nairobi.

The US have blocked an agreement to increase drastically development aid to poor countries struggling to meet the United Nations' target of halving world poverty by 2015, according to the Financial Times, London.

Three members of the Treatment Action Campaign, (TAC) have returned to South Africa from Brazil carrying generic drugs manufactured for use in an AIDS treatment program in Khayelitsha. At a press conference, TAC and MSF explained that the drugs carried from Brazil were the second shipment of Brazilian drugs and that as of today more than 50 people are already taking the Brazilian medicines in Khayelitsha.

The Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa (CAF) is looking to appoint a Co-ordinator for the Corporate Services Programme.

Aid agencies were poised to start substantial emergency supplies to the stricken Congolese town of Goma on Tuesday after a leading expert said Africa's deadliest volcanic eruption in 25 years appeared over.