ANGOLA

Absa Group, the South African bank majority owned by British lender Barclays, said it would merge its business and retail banking units and has also created a small team of Barclays and Absa executives to lead its expansion across the continent.

Angola plans to introduce a benchmark interest rate in October to help the economy attain price stability and boost household savings, daily newspaper Jornal de Angola reported on Friday, citing the head of the country's central bank.

Ten expected contestants of Miss Universe 2012.

Banda conceded to Sata on Friday, ending three days of riots and protesting. The presidential vote was held nationwide on Tuesday, but the government had been slow to tally the votes, a fact which angered eager Zambians.

After 85 of 150 voting districts have been tallied, Sata leads the race with 43 percent of the vote, compared to President Banda's 36 percent. However, Banda still leads in the most recent opinion polls.

Lopes was caught in a scandal claiming she used false documents to help her advance to win the competition. However, since the rumors surfaced, they were quickly shut down during an interview on a Spanish show called Al Rojo Vivo.

Zambia held presidential elections Tuesday, but two days later only 85 of the country's 150 constituencies have reported results, sparking wide-scale unrest in the country and again bringing up fraud allegations. While all eyes are on Zambia, one nation's gaze is especially fixed: China.

About a week after being crowned Miss Universe 2011, Miss Angola Leila Lopes found herself caught up in fraud allegations that threatened to end her reign. However, the woman crowned the most beautiful in the world has broken her silence.

The newly-crowned Miss Universe, Leila Lopes, who is surrounded by criticism barely a week after she won the title, will visit Singapore on Thursday ahead of the Formula One Weekend.

Miss Angola may end up being dethroned by the Miss Universe organizers. But she will not be the first beauty to win and then give up her title. The Miss Universe pageant has a scandalous past where many beauty queens were forced to resign from their reign for some known or unknown reasons.

Leila Lopes, the Angolan beauty who was crowned Miss Universe 2011 just a week ago has become a subject of malicious allegations which could strip her of the coveted title.

Barely a week after Miss Angola Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011, criticisms are flying thick and fast that she had falsified some documents when she applied for the beauty pageant. Naturally, people around the world are curious if Lopes is really the most beautiful woman in the world.

Miss Universe Scandal: The Miss Universe Organization is investigating claims that Lopes falsified documents during the Miss Angola UK pageant earlier this year. The English competition helped her reach the Miss Universe pageant held in Brazil this month.

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, made history after she became the new Miss Universe. Leila is the first Miss Universe from her country in 60 years.

After the 2011 Miss Universe pageant, India couldn't believe that Vasuki Sunkavalli, Miss India 2011, failed to win the crown. Former Miss India's spoke to the media, addressing their disappointment in the country's current queens and reaching for explanations as to why India can't relive its past glory.

Many people are not happy with the decision of the Miss Universe 2011 beauty pageant. Critical statements from a fellow contestant, a judge and other people are still making rounds on Facebook, Twitter and other social networkingsites. The supporters of Shamcey Supsup, Miss Philippines, are surprised that Supsup lost the title after almost making it to the finals according to the fan votes. They speculate it to be a political plot, however, Supsup supports Lopes...

Miss France Laury Thilleman has some nasty words for new Miss Universe 2011 Winner Leila Lopes, Miss Angola.

Laury Thilleman, Miss France, is not happy with the new Miss Universe 2011.

At the 2011 Miss Universe pageant, Leila Lopes became the first Angolan woman to win the crown. While their country-woman proudly wore the crown in Brazil, the African nation rejoiced at the victory along side her.

Thirty people died in Angola on Wednesday when a military plane crashed shortly after take off. Six people survived the accident with moderate to severe burns.

When Leila Lopes, Miss Angola was crowned Miss Universe 2011, her runner up Shamcey Supsup from the Philippines received almost as much attention following a statement allegedly issued by Oprah Winfrey saying she should have won instead.