A "new" instance

From: seesaw (seesaw_at_turboweb.com)
Date: 04/29/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 04:48:47 GMT

class A
 {
   public:
     static A* newA() { return new A; }
...
 };

In the code, two things not very clear and natural to me:
1. the method newA() is defined as static.
2. newA as a member method of class A IS returning a "new" instance of A
while it is still defining class A.

Could someone elaborate the two for my retarded head?

Thanks!