NEWS & REPORTING

Open your mind & speak out against racism

European-wide Action Week against Racism is on
The European-wide Action Week against Racism began on 17 March around Europe and will run until 25 March. This year the slogan is "Open your mind and speak out against racism". The Czech Helsinki Committee has issued a press release on this event, which is organized by the international UNITED network and supported by the various organizations around Europe conducting the anti-racism campaign. A video clip promoting the week in the Czech Republic can be seen here: http://www.romea.cz/romeatv/index.php?id=detail&source=t&vid=YZJgtcMmvB8&detail=YZJgtcMmvB8

NEWS & REPORT

Hindus ask Lady Gaga to take up Gypsy apartheid issue

Lady Gaga

Welcoming international pop icon Lady Gaga’s reported statements about affinity to Gypsy lifestyle, Hindus have asked her to highlight the plight of European Roma (Gypsies) who faced apartheid conditions.

HEALTH & TRADITION

Traditional male circumcision with a modern edge 
By David Njagi

Many countries are short of resources to meet the high demand for male medical circumcision. (Photo Courtesy Edward Echwalu)

Tharaka-Nithi, Kenya — A chorus of ululations pierces the dawn at Pius Nyaga's homestead in eastern Kenya, marking the end of a brief ritual near the family cowshed. Nyaga's son, Antony Mwiti, has just completed the rite of passage into manhood - the traditional way.

COMMENTARY

God’s rights, women’s rights, human & democratic rights

 By Odimegwu Onwumere

Many people are hardly obeying God in the present-days. They are much concerned about how to make Human Rights and Democratic Rights effective, instead of the ways of God. Especially, the politicians and feminists are culprits. And when you try to put the record straight that God laws/rights detailing how men and women should operate in the world is sacrosanct, they tell you that you are living in the past and are barbaric. But even though they change God laws/rights for their selfish pleasures, a point from the bible perception says, "I am the LORD, I change not." (Malachi 3:6).

INTERVIEW

African democracies 'represent the future
Says U.S. Policymaker

According to the Congressional Research Service, the administration has identified democracy-building programs as its top foreign assistance priority in Africa, after three presidential global initiatives directed at health, hunger and climate change, and has asked Congress this year for a 19 percent increase. In the second part of an AllAfrica interview, the administration's top official dealing with Africa policy, Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson, assesses the continent's recent record and details current U.S. efforts to encourage and strengthen democratic practices throughout the sub-Saharan region. Excerpts:

LIFE & STYLE

Zooming in on Kelani’s World

Tunde Kelani

Tunde Kelani who is widely referred to as TK is that Nigerian ace cinematographer. If the story of the Nigerian movie industry or Nollywood is told or written, it would without doubt be incomplete without the inclusion of prolific cinematography, Tunde Kelani, writes SBF

CONFLICT

Boko Haram agrees on ceasefire, picks mediator

After years of frequent bomb attacks on security formations, religious houses and killings of innocent citizens within the northern states, the Boko Haram sect has agreed to cease fire on two conditions.