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The article focuses on the potential of African agriculture to boost exports to China as Chinese President Xi Jinping promises to increase imports from Africa over the next three years. Topics include the challenges faced by African exporters; the need for value addition to exports and the potential benefits of agricultural trade between African countries; and the importance of addressing trade imbalances and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African agriculture are also discussed.

The article informs that William Ruto, president of Kenya, recently attend U.S. President Joe Biden's US-Africa Leaders' Summit, to mend the nation's strategic relationships which seriously damaged during Donald Trump's tenure. He also met Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, to discuss trade and investment, and agreed with U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, to strengthen ties in trade, agriculture, health and regional security.

The article informs that Zanzibar is looking to branch out into tech as a hedge against volatility of tourist sector. Zanzibar can call itself a competitive tech ecosystem, particularly with other African hubs, including Nairobi, still drawing in foreign companies and startups. The World Bank called on Zanzibar to improve its business operating and regulatory environment for small and medium business enterprises to spur job creation and poverty reduction.

The article informs that lithium-producing countries of Africa have been working out to maximise benefits from their lithium deposits. In December, government of Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, announced strict ban on the export of unprocessed lithium, in a bid to stop artisanal miners from digging up the mineral and taking it across borders. The government is planning to build domestic processing capacity and take advantage of surging global prices of lithium.

The author offers insights on the growth of the alternative meat industry. Topics discussed include the environmental impact of meat consumption, a report from Blue Horizon Corp. and Boston Consulting Group on the alternative protein sector, the expansion of Impossible Foods, and the effect of prices on meat and alternative meat consumption.

Discusses the issue of soft-money contributions to political campaigns in the United States. Changes in the trend in soft-money contributions by companies; Conflicts in the stand of several company executives on soft-money contributions; Reactions of the Republican and Democratic parties to the banning of soft money; Reasons of some companies for opposing the ban; Implications of the ban for political parties.

The article presents an interview of former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo mentions issues related to failure of green revolution in Africa for proliferation of agriculture conditions of the continent. He states concerns related to Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari's extended medical leave. Obasanjo discusses problems associated with terrorist attacks of terrorist organization Boko Haram in Nigeria.

The article talks about stigma repoerted by people with differnet mental illnesses such as depression in Czech Republic. Topics discussed include difficulty for people living in countryside to approach psychiatrists; need to educate people about depression via television and radio along with creating some campaigns that engage people; and fund raising by an event Mezi Ploty ("Between the Fences") a music festival at the Bohnice psychiatric hospital for treating the mental hospital patients.

The article looks into the leadership of Ethiopian politician and academic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the first African to head the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its 70-year history. It provides an overview of his background including doctorate in community health, minister of health and foreign affairs, and chairmanship of Global Fund to Fight AIDS. It outlines his five priorities as WHO director general, including to advance universal health coverage and focus on women's well-being.

The article reports that U.S. Republican senators are still undecided on passing a bill that would authorize 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the Mexican border. The bill, which the House approved on September 14, 2006 was the most prominent of several incremental border-security measures that conservative leaders were seeking to pass before the election, after efforts to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation faltered amid intraparty disputes.

The article presents an update on the U.S. Congress as of July 2006. The House of Representatives failed to override President George W. Bush's veto of a bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The Senate approved more than $12 billion worth of flood-control projects of the Army Corps of Engineers. The House approved the U.S.-Oman free-trade agreement on July 20, 2006.

The article reports on the consideration being given by the U.S. House on a bill sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) that would reform the telecommunications law of the country. The bill allows telephone companies to easily compete with cable television providers. In spite of the approval of the committee, the legislation has been put on delay due to a jurisdictional dispute with the House Judiciary Committee.

The article reports on the conflict among Republicans over the enforcement of border security and the granting of citizenship for illegal immigrants in line with the passage of the immigration bill in the U.S. Senate. Majority Leader Bill Frist brought up his own border-security bill and made the broader immigration bill approved by the Judiciary Committee a substitute amendment. The committee bill would establish a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants and grant citizenship without having to first return to their home countries.

The article presents an update related to the U.S. government and politics as of February 2006. The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Representative John Boehner has been elected as the new majority leader of the House Republicans. President George W. Bush emphasized his 2006 agenda during his State of the Union speech.

Reports on the decision issued by the U.S. House on a resolution calling for the country to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Legislators who sponsored the resolution; Remarks from Representative Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) regarding the participation of the country in the WTO; Overview of the resolution.

Presents updates on the U.S. Congress as of January 29, 2005. Number of opposition votes to the appointment of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State; Amount of funds to be requested by the administration to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Forecast on the budget deficit in fiscal 2005.

Reports on the enactment of an increase in the statutory debt ceiling as well as the fiscal 2005 omnibus appropriations bill in the U.S. Congress. Warning given by Senator Robert Byrd, D-W. Va. on budget deficits; Letter sent by Joshua Bolten, director of the Office of Management and Budget, to appropriators.

Reports on the selection of U.S. Representative Porter Goss (R-Fla.) as the Central Intelligence Agency director and the approval of a bipartisan intelligence reform bill by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee in September 2004. Number of Democrats who voted against Goss; Sponsor of the intelligence reform bill; Action to be taken by the Senate regarding the bill.

Reports on the approval of a federal transportation bill by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 24, 2004. Amount of the bill; Transportation bill preferred by the committee which was not sent to the House; Provision included by chairman Don Young, (R-Alaska), in the bill; Remarks from ranking member James Oberstar, (D-Minn.), on the funding issue.

Highlights the plans of U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) to pare back the energy bill in February 2004. Budget for the energy bill; Controversial provisions that will be removed by Domenici.

Provides an update on significant events in the U.S. Congress as of December 13, 2003. Reason for delaying the progress of the fiscal 2004 omnibus appropriations package; Ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act; Information on the Medicare expansion bill signed by U.S. President George W. Bush.

Reports the efforts of U.S. House-Senate appropriators to finalize appropriation bills for fiscal 2004. Bills that appropriators plan to merge into an omnibus package; Issues that affect the merger of the package.

Reports on the deadline set by the U. S. Congress to adjourn for the year 2003. Bills to be completed; Progress of several measures.

Reports on U.S. House-Senate negotiations on the Medicare prescription drug benefit legislation on November 4, 2003. Problems associated with the draft of the conference report; Concern over competition in the Medicare program.

Presents an update on several significant events in the U.S. Congress as of October 25, 2003. Collaboration between House and Senate conferees to reach agreement on Medicare prescription drug benefit legislation; Conflict over the passage of a comprehensive energy legislation; Status of the negotiations over the fiscal 2004 supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Presents updates on important events in the U.S. Congress for the week ending September 25, 2003. Debates among legislators over the $87 billion budget request of President George W. Bush to support the country's mission in Iraq; Bills approved by the Congress to give short-term extension to the budget of transportation agency; Deadline set by Republican leaders on Medicare bill; Status of tobacco legislation in the Congress.

Presents updates on legislators and the U.S. Congress as of September 13, 2003. Reactions of legislators to the request made by President George W. Bush for $87 billion to support the country's missions in Iraq and Afghanistan; Status of the 2004 appropriations bills; Meeting held by the House-Senate conferees that yield agreement on some portions of the legislation providing Medicare prescription drug benefits; Legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee which extends welfare for low-income families and unemployed.

Presents updates on events related to the U.S. Congress as of May 24, 2003. Expectation that the U.S. Congress will approve a $330 billion tax cut bill; Work of the U.S. Congress on fiscal 2004 Defense authorization bill; Approval by the U.S. Congress of a bill that will allocate $15 billion to help foreign countries combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Reports on several significant events related to politics in the U.S. Congress as of May 2003. Approval of a fiscal 2004 budget resolution by the House; Passage of legislation on special education; Decision to approve AIDS prevention and treatment legislation.

Presents updates on the U.S. Congress as of April 2003. Approval of the Charity, Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act in the country; Nomination of Priscilla Owen to a seat at Court of Appeals; Comments from Representative Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) on gun manufacturing.

Presents updates related to the U.S. Congress as of April 5, 2003. Decision of congressional leaders to put the supplemental budget bill to support the war in Iraq on fast track; Partisan debate over smallpox vaccination bill; Move of a congressional panel to act on President George W. Bush's budget request for research on the prevention and treatment of AIDS.

Reports on various issues and events in the U.S. Congress for March 10-13, 2003. Approval of a legislation in the U.S. Senate banning partial-birth abortion; Legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives which limits medical malpractice court awards; Dispute between the Senate and House on the fiscal 2004 budget; Impact of the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century on gas taxes.

Presents news briefs on the U.S. Congress as of March 8, 2003. Decision of the U.S. Senate to block an attempt by Republicans to move to a final vote on the nomination of Miguel A. Estrada to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; Move of U.S. House Republican leaders to cancel floor debate on the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act; Approval of a medical malpractice bill by several U.S. House committees.

Presents news briefs related to events in the U.S. Congress from November 12 through 14, 2002. Creation of a Homeland Security Department; Postponement of budget decisions until January 2003; Activities in bankruptcy reform and terrorism insurance.

Presents news briefs on the U.S. Congress from October 7 to 10, 2002. Approval of the resolution authorizing U.S. President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq; Agreement between the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on the Defense and Military Construction appropriations bill for 2003; Ratification of a legislative conference committee agreement on comprehensive election-process reforms.

Highlights several events in the U.S. Congress as of October 5, 2002. Decision of the U.S. Senate to give President George W. Bush the authority to use military force in Iraq; Move of the U.S. Senate to shelve the bill that seeks to create the Homeland Security Department; Resolution passed by the U.S. House that urges states to review procedures for calling special elections to ensure that vance House seats are filled fast.

Presents an update on various political and government issues in the U.S. as of September 28, 2002. Issues that delay the proposed establishment of a Department of Homeland Security; Projected losses in the airline industry by 2002; Provisions of two health care bills that were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Presents news briefs on U.S. politics from September 16 to September 19, 2002. Schedule of the first open hearing for the joint intelligence committee investigating failures that led to the September 11, 2001 attacks; Issues on the fiscal 2003 appropriations of the U.S. Congress; Information on the generic drug bill approved by the Senate in late July 2002.

Presents news briefs on events in the U.S. Congress as of September 12, 2002. Activities of Congress members and President George W. Bush during the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; Delay of legislation to create a Homeland Security Department; Reaction of Democratic Party members to the speech of Bush on Iraq before the United Nations on September 12, 2002.

Presents news briefs on politics in the U.S. Congress from July 22 to 25, 2002. Information on the corporate accountability and accounting reform legislation; Focuses on the stand of the U.S. House on the creation of the homeland security department; Details of the negotiation sought by senators regarding the prescription drug deal.

Presents updates in the U.S. Congress as of July 20, 2002. Progress of corporate responsibility and accounting legislation; Views on the Medicare prescription drug benefit proposal; Prospects for the homeland department bill.

Presents news briefs on the U.S. Congress as of July 2002. U.S. Senate approval of a Democratic amendment for punishing white-collar criminals; Decision of the U.S. House to allow airline pilots to carry firearms in aircraft cockpits; Preparation of the U.S. Senate for prescription drug legislation.