April 16, 2013.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

The World Bank expects to lure investors into conflict-hit states.

The Department of Trade’s Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme creates over 12 000 permanent jobs.

And, bombs kill 3 people and wound more than 100 at the Boston Marathon in the US.

A senior official said on Monday that the World Bank's political risk guarantee agency hopes that with a new insurance facility it can help attract more companies into conflict-hit states early on as the country rebuilds and tries to get people back to work.

The World Bank estimates more than 1.5-billion people live in fragile states around the world in places from Afghanistan to Iraq, Libya, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Liberia, Myanmar and Mali that have been hit by some form of conflict.  Some of Africa's fastest growing economies like Angola and Mozambique were once conflict zones and now in the midst of an economic revival.

Michel Wormser, chief operating officer for the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), said the donor-funded Conflict-Affected and Fragile Economies Facility will enable the agency to provide cover for projects it would normally regard as too risky in countries emerging from war or violence.

Canada has said it will provide $20-million to the facility while two European countries have indicated they stand ready to participate. MIGA is targeting an initial $80-million from donor countries.

The Department of Trade and Industry director-general Lionel October said the Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (or CTCP) has, to date, created more than 12 000 new permanent jobs in South Africa’s clothing, textiles, leather and footwear sectors.

Speaking at the Source Africa 2013 conference, in Cape Town, he indicated that the CTCP, which was launched in September 2010, had breathed new life into these sectors. More than 400 companies have been assisted under the programme and R1.5-billion worth of applications have been approved.

October said “local retailers were increasing procurement from local manufacturers and that confidence was starting to be shown by the new investment in the sectors”, while highlighting the importance of trade among African countries, as the industry had growth potential.

Two bombs ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people, maiming others and injuring more than 100 in what a White House official said would be treated as an "act of terror."

It was the worst bombing on US soil since security was tightened after the attacks of September 11, 2001. US President Barack Obama promised to hunt down whoever was responsible for the attack on the day when tens of thousands of spectators packed the streets to watch the world-famous race.

He said individuals or groups responsible for this atrocity would feel the full weight of justice.  No one has been arrested and the White House official said it would have to be determined whether the attack came from a foreign or domestic source.

Also making headlines: 

Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti says South Africa has approved a $100-million loan to Zimbabwe.

The UN is considering the deployment of peacekeepers in Mali on July 1.

African countries are urged to rethink their use of mineral revenues for poverty reduction.

And, Cosatu says an investigation into corruption allegations against its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is not being conducted.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.