Pedal power for Kenya's mobiles

" Two Kenyan students are hoping to market a device that allows bicycle riders to charge their mobile phones.
Jeremiah Murimi, 24, and Pascal Katana, 22, said they wanted their dynamo-powered "smart charger" to help people without electricity in rural areas.
"We both come from villages and we know the problems," Mr Murimi told the BBC.
People have to travel great distances to shops where they are charged $2 a time to power their phone, usually from a car battery or solar panel.
"The device is so small you can put it in your pocket with your phone while you are on your bike," said Mr Murimi. " (Image source: bbc.co.uk)

Full BBC Article here ......

Basketball Star from Eritrea's Signs Deal with Olympiacos

" Thomas Kelati, the only professional basketball player from Eritrea in Europe has signed to play for Greek basketball club Olympiacos.

The 26 year old point guard transferred from Spanish basketball club UNICAJA and made his first press conference stating:

“I am really excited, Olympiacos is one of the giants at European basketball, a team that has reached Heights in the world. It is my honour to be a member of this team.”

He admitted that two days ago he did not even know in which direction his career would go. "

Full Article here .....

Ruins of Loropéni (Burkina Faso) inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

" Burkina Faso joined the rank of countries that have World Heritage properties on their territory with the inscription of the Ruins of Loropéni on UNESCO’s List on Friday.
The 11,130m2 property, the first to be inscribed in the country, with its imposing stone walls is the best preserved of ten fortresses in the Lobi area and is part of a larger group of 100 stone enclosures that bear testimony to the power of the trans-Saharan gold trade. Situated near the borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, the ruins have recently been shown to be at least 1,000 years old. "

Full UNESCO Press Release here ......

The equivalent of a cultural safari in Tanzania

" But perhaps the highlight of the day was a meal with Mama Kisha, an event that would have thrilled the soul of anyone belonging to those American tribes known as the locavores, the foodies, the permaculturists and the whole foods movement.
“Karibou (welcome!)” she greeted us, ushering us in to sit on woven mats in her front room, freshly carpeted with sweetly scented dried grasses.
Our meal was preceded by a tour of the farm surrounding this tiny mud and grass cottage, if it could be called a farm. At first blush, it seemed a forest — of banana palms, oil palms and coffee trees, among others. But as we made our way down paths lined picturesquely with palm leaves, Rutta brought the landscape to life.
Here, covering the ground as far as we could see, in the shade of this verdant forest, was an abundant crop of green beans, ready for harvest. There were spicy bush peppers and tiny pea-size tomatoes. There were yams and squash and peanuts and vegetables I had never heard of. Everything was farmed organically here, Rutta explained, because the locals couldn’t possibly afford chemicals of any kind, even if they’d ever heard of them. "

Full Article by TRACY L. BARNETT here .......