Reuters: Kenya Sees Stable Food Supply, Global Prices a Concern – Following a year of increased staple crop production and favorable weather, Kenya expects a stable supply of food until December. Despite this, prices could still rise due to “pressure from soaring grain prices on international markets.”
NYTimes: I.B.M. Adds an African Lab to Its Growing Global Research Network – I.B.M. will open a research center in Nairobi, Kenya, adding an African lab to its global network. The new lab is seen as a “step toward reversing the tradition of bright young Africans’ departing for the West, in search of advanced education and jobs.” I.B.M. has scaled up investment in Africa in recent years, and Africa is “destined to become an important growth market for the company.” (Steve Lohr)
Reuters: Britain Gives Malawi $4.7 Million for Food Aid – Britain has given $4.7 million to Malawi for food aid as more than 1.6 million people face food shortages in the southern African nation. Malawi’s economy “was driven to the brink of collapse after foreign aid dried up over concerns about the human rights record of President Bingu wa Mutharika.” Britain’s contribution brings the total international aid for Joyce Banda’s new government to over $500 million.
VOA: As Somali Election Nears, Candidates Accused of Corruption – Leading up to the August 20th election, some presidential candidates have been “accused of both interfering with the process of electing new parliamentarians and vote-buying.” Mohamed Ali Hashi, a former political adviser in Somalia, explains that “since every candidate is promising the same thing, financial offers are often the deciding factor.” (Mohammed Yusuf)
