Tuesday, January 31, 2012

BBC News - Senegal opposition activist Alioune Tine freed

BBC News - Senegal opposition activist Alioune Tine freed: "Prominent Senegalese opposition activist Alioune Tine has been released without charge after two days in detention - ahead of more protests.

Mr Tine is a member of the June 23 Movement (M23), formed last year to oppose President Abdoulaye Wade's plans to run for a third term."

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Monday, January 30, 2012

Senegal waits for decision on Wade - Africa | IOL News | IOL.co.za

Senegal waits for decision on Wade - Africa | IOL News | IOL.co.za: "Dakar - Senegal's top constitutional body on Sunday weighed appeals to its controversial decision to allow President Abdoulaye Wade to run for a third term amid opposition vows for mass protests.

The Constitutional Council, appointed by 85-year-old Wade and known as the “five wise men”, had on Friday declared his renewed candidacy valid, sparking deadly riots in the normally peaceful West African nation.

Seven candidates - including the leader of the main opposition party, two of Wade's former prime ministers and two ex-foreign ministers - have lodged appeals with the council against Wade running again."

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

BBC News - Senegal clashes erupt as court clears Wade poll bid

BBC News - Senegal clashes erupt as court clears Wade poll bid: "Violence has broken out in Senegal after the country's top court ruled that President Abdoulaye Wade can run for a third term in office next month.

Protesters set buildings and barricades on fire in the capital. A policeman was killed in the unrest, officials say.

The court also barred Senegal's best-known music star Youssou N'Dour - an opponent of Mr Wade - from standing."

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Welfare Drug Testing Bill Withdrawn After Amended To Include Testing Lawmakers

Welfare Drug Testing Bill Withdrawn After Amended To Include Testing Lawmakers: ""After it passed, Rep. McMillin got pretty upset and pulled his bill," Dvorak said. "If anything, I think it points out some of the hypocrisy. ... If we're going to impose standards on drug testing, then it should apply to everybody who receives government money.""

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Senegal opposition urges more resistance after riots | Reuters

Senegal opposition urges more resistance after riots | Reuters: "(Reuters) - Senegal's opposition said on Saturday it would make the country "ungovernable" if President Abdoulaye Wade insisted on running for a third term in elections next month, raising the spectre of renewed riots in West Africa's most peaceful nation."

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Friday, January 27, 2012

BBC News - Davos 2012: Africa leaders urge co-operation

BBC News - Davos 2012: Africa leaders urge co-operation: "Mr Zuma said infrastructure was at the heart of one of the key issues for the continent, namely how Africa leads itself.

"Africans must trade amongst themselves," he said.

"Intra-Africa trade is negligible," Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga pointed out. "Europe trades more with itself that with the rest of the world.""

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

BBC News - Sopa and Pipa anti-piracy bills controversy explained

BBC News - Sopa and Pipa anti-piracy bills controversy explained: "The Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) is the bill being considered by the House of Representatives.

The Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa) is the parallel bill being considered by the Senate.

The proposed legislation is designed to tackle online piracy, with particular emphasis on illegal copies of films and other forms of media hosted on foreign servers."

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BBC News - Sopa: US backers end support for anti-piracy bill

BBC News - Sopa: US backers end support for anti-piracy bill: "Eight US lawmakers have withdrawn their backing from anti-piracy laws, amid "blackout" protests on thousands of internet sites.

Two of the bill's co-sponsors, Marco Rubio from Florida and Roy Blunt from Missouri, are among those backing away.

Online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and blog service WordPress are among the highest profile sites to block their content."

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Strike Against SOPA & PIPA

Strike Against SOPA & PIPA: "Today, we are striking against censorship
Join the largest online protest in history: tell Congress to stop this bill now!"

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Monday, January 9, 2012

BBC News - Youssou N'Dour announces Senegal presidential bid

BBC News - Youssou N'Dour announces Senegal presidential bid: "Musician Youssou N'Dour has announced he is running in February's presidential elections in Senegal.

"I have listened... and I am responding favourably," Mr N'Dour said on his own TV network, referring to requests that he put himself forward, AFP reports.

Mr N'Dour will run against incumbent Abdoulaye Wade, who is seeking a controversial third term."

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BBC News - How a Senegalese flower grew into a huge US business

BBC News - How a Senegalese flower grew into a huge US business: "Senegal's Magatte Wade, a self-described serial entrepreneur, is convinced that Africa's future depends on its ability to develop a strong manufacturing sector.

With that in mind, she co-founded Adina World Beat Beverages in 2004 and recently launched her second company, The Tiossano Tribe, which produces high-end skin care products based on traditional Senegalese recipes.

For years, Mrs Wade has been very critical of the condescendence with which, in her opinion, often well-intentioned people in the developed world - and especially in the country where she conducts most of her business, the United States - treat Africa."

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BBC News - Malaysia court finds Anwar Ibrahim not guilty of sodomy

BBC News - Malaysia court finds Anwar Ibrahim not guilty of sodomy: "Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted of sodomy after a two-year trial.

Judge Zabidin Mohamad Diah said DNA evidence submitted by the prosecution was unreliable and discharged the case.

Mr Anwar, 64, has consistently denied the charges and called them a government bid to cripple his political ambitions and influence."

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