By Douglas Mpuga

The launch of a new fiber optic cable to eastern and southern Africa will mean increased bandwidth and improved opportunities for businesses and people who want to use the Internet, says John Karanja, a student of sociology at the University of Oxford in Great Britain. The cable will improve Internet connectivity in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique. 

The Africa Competitiveness Report 2009 launched in this month by the African Development Bank, is jointly produced by the African development Bank, World Economic Forum and the World Bank. The report takes stock of African competitiveness and finds that financial development and free trade critical for riding out the crisis; while improvements to infrastructure, health and education and governance remain the medium-term keys to increased competitiveness. 

By Ndze Ntuv Evaristus Tunka

Come Saturday July 25th, African Global Roots (AGR) will hold it’s first ever African Arts Festival in the Twin cities to showcase some of Africa’s finest talents and rare cultural presentations which would include fashion, music, dance amongst others that with leave the community gaping in amazement.

Speaking to the press, AGR’s Executive Director-Petros Haile said the festival is designed to embrace a soldering of African artistry, demonstrating finesse in electric asseveration of the different embodiment of the African diaspora.

By Rita Apaloo

It happens every year. Once the warm weather hits, I get back to the game of strategizing to lose the 20 plus pounds that I’ve piled on over the years from childbearing and aging---okay, I’m only being honest. So usually my plan involves stepping up my physical activities and spending less time in front of the tube---no rocket science type breakthroughs here. At some point, my husband tells me---and this happens more than once during the summer---“I’m glad that you’re planning to stay healthy and all but please don’t lose the pounds everywhere…”

By Rachel M. Anderson

(Minneapolis, Minn.) – A few years ago if you asked an elementary school-aged child what they know about Africa the answer probably would have been, “Not much.” But now that our nation’s first African-American President has been elected to office multicultural awareness is taking on a new urgency in our schools.

“President Barack Obama’s background – the son of an African man and an American woman – offers an amazing platform to bring our two cultures together. There’s no doubt in my mind that American interest in Africa is expanding as a direct result of his election,” says Professor Chérif Keita, who teaches French language and Francophone African and Caribbean Literature at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.

ST. PAUL, MN — When two Ramsey County Correctional Facility employees and six inmates developed active Tuberculosis disease after being infected last summer, County Manager Julie Kleinschmidt, in consultation with senior management and the County Board, recently authorized the hiring of a nationally known consultant to assess TB control procedures at the correctional facility and make recommendations that could be adopted to enhance the health and safety of Ramsey County employees.

The weekend of June 19 – 21, saw members from the Eritrean Community hold a peaceful March at the nation’s Capitol, Washington, D.C. After the March, The African News Journal interviewed the Chairman of the Eritrean Global Solidarity, a civic movement  that gained momentum in the past few months. In our discussion which touched different areas of  politics in the Horn of Africa; the Chairman Seyoum had this to say.

  By Ndze Ntuv Evaristus Tunka

 ANJ: Could you tell us the role the Eritrean Civic movements played during the liberation struggle?

KiRette Couture's rave as the new 'it' fashion house is unquestionably one of the most successfull any African design houses has had. The women behind this growing fashion giant chatted with ANJ's Ndze Ntuv Evaristus Tunka about their designs, inspiration and fast rise to the helm as one of Africa's most revelled design house. KC's ineffaceable glow not only turns eyes, but makes the mind journey in amazement at the knack of its creations.

African News Journal: Thanks for chatting with us today.  It's good to finally talk to the ladies behind what has undoubtedly become the most grooved on interpretations of African fashion. So What made you decide that you wanted to become fashion designers?

By Deb Pleasants , TC Daily Planet

Sitting behind the reception desk at the International Institute of Minnesota (IIM), Hibo Khalaf displays both poise and professionalism. However, it was not too long ago she stood on the other side of the desk. When her family first arrived here as refugees five years ago, they needed IIM to help with their adjustment to American life. Now as Independence Day looms, Khalaf feels a stronger connection to her adopted homeland. Any day now, she will be sworn in as a US citizen.

(GIN) – In an apparent reprise of the Bush administation’s foray into the Horn of Africa, the Obama  administration is looking to increase “development assistance” to its ally Ethiopia despite concerns about the country's slide toward authoritarianism.
 
Ethiopia supported a U.S. initiative to unseat the Somali government in 2006. It sent troops to Mogadishu, but pulled them out earlier this year, when the world communty switched sides and backed the Islamic Courts Union it had just overthrown.