Africa

Entrepreneurs crowdsource traffic tips to help drivers out of jams in newly car-dense cities

"If you own a mobile phone and spend sunup to sundown watching the traffic pass in Ghana’s capital, then Iddrisu Mohammed wants you to be his spy. With an iPad in his hands and two phones in his pants pockets, Mohammed crisscrosses Accra on foot, looking for people to become informants for Jamless, a recently launched traffic information service that hopes to restore a little sanity to the capital’s hectic commute. 'What Jamless will do is give you the traffic situation in any part of Accra that you are and give you alternate routes to use if the place is jammed,' said Mohammed, who is the company’s informant manager." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEntrepreneurs crowdsource traffic tips to help drivers out of jams in newly car-dense cities

Scientists use iPhones to diagnose intestinal worms

"Scientists used an iPhone and a camera lens to diagnose intestinal worms in rural Tanzania, a breakthrough that could help doctors treat patients infected with the parasites, a study said on Tuesday. Research published by the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene showed that it is possible to fashion a low-cost field microscope using an iPhone, double-sided tape, a flashlight, ordinary laboratory slides and an $8 cameral lens. The researchers used their cobbled-together microscope to successfully determine the presence of eggs from hookworm and other parasites in the stool of infected children." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScientists use iPhones to diagnose intestinal worms

The UN Declares War on Katanga — Again

"With the backing of both the U.S. and the Soviet Union, UN military forces were deployed to Katanga, where they carried out bloody punitive actions that killed scores of innocent people and prompted a widespread international outcry. A British inquiry documented acts of rape, plunder, and terrorism committed by multinational Blue Helmet forces. Echoes of the UN’s war to suppress Katanga five decades ago were heard last week when the UN Security Council passed a Chapter Seven resolution – the world body’s equivalent of a declaration of war – authorizing the deployment of a multinational military brigade to disarm and “neutralize” rebel groups in Congo." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe UN Declares War on Katanga — Again

‘Where is the evidence my son was a terrorist?’

"The parents of a British-born man killed by a US drone strike after being stripped of his UK citizenship have spoken out for the first time – to say they will never forgive the British Government for his death. Mohamed Sakr was born and brought up in London before he was targeted and killed in February 2012 in Somalia. Now his Egyptian-born parents Gamal and Eman Sakr, who have lived in Britain for 35 years, have accused ministers of betraying this country's democratic values. The couple said they believe their son was left vulnerable to the attack after the Government stripped him of his British citizenship months before he was killed." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Where is the evidence my son was a terrorist?’

Lead investigator in Oscar Pistorius case is himself facing attempted murder charges

"On Thursday further pressure was piled on South African police as they admitted Botha is himself charged with attempted murder. Police Brigadier Neville Malila told the Associated Press that the detective is scheduled to appear in court in May. Malila said Botha faced seven counts of attempted murder over what news reports called a drunken incident in which he and two other police officers were accused of firing shots from a state-owned vehicle while trying to stop a minivan." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLead investigator in Oscar Pistorius case is himself facing attempted murder charges

The Truth Behind the Decline in Somali Piracy

"[P]rivate security forces thwarted Somalian piracy and not the mighty navies. It is interesting to note that while everyone from navies of different countries to 'the transitional administration in Somalia' becoming more successful are cited as causes of this, it notes that 'For many in the shipping industry, the fall in attacks is a vindication of the decision to massively ramp up the use of armed guards'. It also notes that 'So far, not a single ship with armed guards has been taken by pirates'. Looks like the risk/reward of being a pirate is not economical anymore. All due to private security. Walter Block would be happy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Truth Behind the Decline in Somali Piracy

President Obama’s Brother Loses Election in Kenya

"President Barack Obama’s half-brother, Abong’o Malik Obama, won’t be the second member of his family to launch a political career. Mr. Obama was defeated in his bid to be governor of Kenya’s Siaya County this week by what seems to have been a very large margin. Mr. Obama is the eldest child of President Obama’s father. They have different mothers. Mr. Obama served as the best man at the president’s wedding to Michelle Obama in 1992." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPresident Obama’s Brother Loses Election in Kenya

Rwandan woman stripped of U.S. citizenship after lying about role in genocide

"Witnesses described Munyenyezi conducting selections of who would die according to whether identity cards said a person was Tutsi or Hutu. 'If I’m checking IDs at roadblocks, knowing that person is going to be clubbed to death, I’m as responsible as if I wielded the machete myself,' said Capin. Prosecution witnesses included Consolee Mukeshimana who described Munyenyezi as checking identity cards at the roadblock for two hours on one occasion, and directing Tutsis to their deaths." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRwandan woman stripped of U.S. citizenship after lying about role in genocide

Another ‘War is Peace’ Award (This Time Hollande Wins!)

"In this case it may be more appropriate than one might first imagine. The prize, awarded by UNESCO, is known as the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize in honor of the authoritarian president of of the Ivory Coast from 1960-1993. Could it be, as suggested in this very provocative article in the journal of the Strategic Culture Foundation, that France was over-eager to show its new Rafale fighter jets in action in hopes of scoring the "deal of the century" -- a $12 billion sale of these thus far tepidly received fighters to India?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnother ‘War is Peace’ Award (This Time Hollande Wins!)

France’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

"This is France's second war in Africa in several years. The first we have written about at length – the destabilization of the Ivory Coast on behalf, partially, of France's cocoa interests and the empowerment of Alassane Ouattara. His opponent, Laurent Gbagbo is on trial now in front of the International Criminal Court for the crime of trying to insist on his lawful election. Hollande, who now lords over an increasingly aggressive and unjust France that has started two wars in about as many years, has just received a peace prize. Conclusion: Oh, the irony." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize