Because flights cannot cover the entire Antarctic continent, scientists have selected key sites to study that are most prone to change, NASA said.

CNN: NASA flights will study Antarctic ice changes

Fourth, African nations are essential contributors both to intra-African military operations that help stabilize the African continent and also to many key UN multilateral peacekeeping missions.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: AFRICOM proceeds apace

Among the many things he said on our long journey is that Africa as a continent must decide what its key interests were and then systematically work out how to get those things.

BBC: African viewpoint: Choosing friends and leaders

Mr Zuma said infrastructure was at the heart of one of the key issues for the continent, namely how Africa leads itself.

BBC: Davos 2012: Africa leaders urge co-operation

For Ragheb, improving intra-African connections is key to the development of the continent.

CNN: Private jets spread their wings in Africa

Among other things, the New York Forum AFRICA will bring together African business leaders with business leaders from other regions and continents of the world, providing the opportunity for international investment companies and sovereign wealth funds to meet with and have discussions with African governments and key entrepreneurs on concrete projects and investment opportunities on the continent.

FORBES: The New York Forum Comes To Africa

Jordaan said South Africa is working to share the benefits - and the preparation work - for the event with the rest of the continent to show that Africa should not be shunned to the sidelines of key international events.

BBC: CHOOSE A SPORT

But even with her personal intervention, Rice left for Europe without a key piece of the U.S. plan to put missiles on the continent to protect against "rogue states" such as Iran, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

CNN: Poland firm on U.S. missile defense opposition

Wal-Mart believes that South Africa is a key market for growth and it accounts for roughly 20% of consumer spending on the African continent.

FORBES: Wal-Mart Takes On Africa With Massmart