[Development issues] Is the media soft on aid groups?

Reuters Alertnet has a a compelling article on whether journalists give aid groups a free pass in their coverage. The reader comments at the bottom are also worth reading.

[Sports news] Guinean national team's revival

FIFA.com has an article on the revival of the Guinean national soccer team since the hiring of Robert Nouzaret as coach. The Syli national have qualified for the 2008 African Nations Cup to be held early next year in Ghana. They will be in the same first round group as Namibia, Morocco as well as the host country.

[Development news] Apparent success with experimental malaria vaccine

Many news outlets reported on the apparent success of an experimental malaria vaccine that was administered to infants.

A clinical trial in Mozambique of 214 infants aged 10 to 18 weeks found the vaccine was safe and reduced new infections by 65 percent over a three-month period after treatment. Clinical illness was cut by 35 percent over six months.

A new vaccine could be commercially available in 2012, according to Reuters.

[Guinean news] Legislative elections to be postponed?

AngolaPress reports that the Guinean legislative elections may be postponed. Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté told parliament that the date might need to be pushed back due to the slow pace of organizing the vote.

The elections are estimated to cost some 79 billion Guinean francs, or nearly US$19 million, with the government picking up a little less than a quarter of the tab.

[Guinean and development news] New rice seed increases output but faces obstacles

The New York Times had an article about an intriguing project called New Rices for Africa. The piece also touches on the rice seed distribution system in Guinea and other parts of West Africa.

The new seeds increased yields even without fertilizer and more than doubled them with it. From planting to harvest, they also took three months rather than the five or six required by traditional varieties, putting rice on the family table during the hungry season.

But to sustain increased yields, farmers need a reliable source of fresh seed. Productivity declines when the new seeds become degraded after mixing with local varieties in storage sheds and fields and on the floors of the farmers’ huts.

[Internet news] Guinéenews is 10 years old

Guinéenews recently celebrated its first decade. Guinéenews was founded 10 years ago by Boubacar Caba Bah, a Guinean living in Canada. It is widely regarded as the premier internet site for Guinean news and has many correspondents inside the country.

Friends of Guinea is an official partner of Guinéenews.