ZIMBABWE

The Federal Reserve's myriad emergency programs for the U.S. economy threaten the central bank's independence, raising the risk of future inflation, Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Charles Plosser said on Thursday.

Western nations and lending agencies have agreed a financing package of more than $1 billion to improve infrastructure in southern and central Africa at an investment conference meant to expand transport links and trade.

Southern African leaders were Monday expected to suspend Madagascar from the SADC regional grouping, after its president was forced from office earlier this month.

South African ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday criticized Western powers for holding back aid to Zimbabwe while President Robert Mugabe was still in power.

Denmark boasts the world's most networked economy, putting it and its Nordic neighbors in a good position to rebound from the current global downturn, the World Economic Forum said on Thursday.

Zimbabwe should clear arrears and implement sound policies if it is to get badly needed IMF financial and technical help to revive the country's devastated economy, the fund said Wednesday.

Australia has pledged to provide $6.4m to Zimbabwe to help provide clean water and draw health professionals back into the system, becoming the first Western country to announce the aid.

President Robert Mugabe joined mourning for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife Tuesday and called on Zimbabweans to end violence and support his old rival in rebuilding the shattered country.

Public health experts say that authorities and Zimbabweans themselves must take care not to spread cholera as the number of reported cases continues to rise.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday ruled out foul play as the cause of a car crash that injured him and killed his wife, easing concerns that it would increase tensions in the new government.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife was killed and he was injured on Friday when a truck slammed into their vehicle, officials in his MDC party said.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday made his first call for an end to international sanctions, part of his bid to start rebuilding the shattered economy.

Hollywood character, Matt Damon was moved as he listened to a pregnant Zimbabwean woman describe how she was raped and the hardships she faced crossing into South Africa.

Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe is set to have lavish birthday celebrations this Saturday after his supporters raised more than $250,000 to fund it, according to reports from a state run newspaper.

Southern African finance ministers agreed on Friday to push for donor help to rebuild Zimbabwe from economic collapse, and put the initial need at $2 billion, South Africa's foreign minister said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to release detained activists and said such a move would help unlock international humanitarian support.

This weekend Zimbabwe's president turns 85 and he looks forward to lavish celebrations next week while the children are left to starve and more than half the population is being fed by international aid.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe celebrates his 85th birthday on Saturday facing a tough year even by the standards of such a veteran political survivor

Zimbabwe is engaging South Africa over using its neighbour's rand currency to boost foreign exchange liquidity, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday.

MUTARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's MDC may be reluctant to quit the new unity government formed to lead the country out of economic crisis, despite the arrest of one of its senior officials, a top party official said on Monday.

A new property has now been added to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's list, this time it's a 4 million pound ($5.6 million) home in Hong Kong, Britain's Sunday Times reported.