Merkel boosts aid for Africa

Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to increase Germany’s aid contribution to poorer countries, including Africa, by €750m annually until 2011, ahead of next week’s Group of Eight summit.

In an interview conducted by anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof and published in tomorrow’s edition of Germany’s mass-circulation Bild daily, Merkel said the development aid hike was part of Berlin’s commitment to achieve its overall pledge to put 0.51% of its gross domestic product toward such assistance.